What is the difference between live and extracted data connections in Tableau?

Live and extracted data connections in Tableau serve different purposes and provide unique benefits based on the requirements of the analysis being conducted. The key distinction lies in how the data is accessed and updated.

With live connections, Tableau directly queries the data source for up-to-the-minute information. This means that whenever a visualization is refreshed or interacted with, Tableau fetches the latest data from the source, ensuring that the user sees the most current information available. This is particularly beneficial for real-time analytics where decisions need to be made based on the latest data.

On the other hand, extracted connections involve taking a snapshot of the data at a specific point in time, which is stored locally within Tableau’s environment. This snapshot can greatly improve performance, especially when working with large datasets, since the extracted data is optimized for speed during analysis. However, the trade-off is that the extracted data does not reflect changes made in the original data source until the extraction is refreshed, which can be done on a schedule or manually.

Understanding this fundamental difference helps users choose the right type of connection based on their specific analytical needs, whether they prioritize speed and performance or require real-time data updates.