In Tableau, what defines a dimension?

In Tableau, a dimension is defined as a categorical field that is used for qualitative data analysis. Dimensions are typically composed of discrete values and can represent characteristics or attributes of the data, such as names, dates, or geographical locations. When you use dimensions in your analysis, you can segment, group, and categorize your data, allowing for deeper insights.

Using dimensions helps to break down data into meaningful parts, enabling users to explore data from different angles. For instance, if you have sales data, dimensions could include product categories, customer regions, or time periods, which allow for slicing the data in different ways.

The other choices address concepts that are associated with dimensions but do not define what a dimension itself is. A quantifiable measure, for example, refers to numerical data used in calculations and is not a category of data but rather a type of measurement. Visualization types relate to how data is represented visually in Tableau, and filter criteria pertain to a method of limiting data displayed, which is a function of dimensions and measures in analysis rather than a definition of a dimension itself.