What is the function of the PERCENTILE() in Tableau?

The function of PERCENTILE() in Tableau is to find a value below which a given percentage of data falls. This statistical function is used to assess where a particular data point stands in relation to the rest of the dataset, thus providing valuable insights into the distribution of that data. For instance, if you calculate the 75th percentile, you will obtain a value such that 75% of the data points in the dataset fall below this value, making it a useful tool for understanding distributions in analytics, benchmarking, and performance assessments.

In order to carry out this function, Tableau uses an algorithm that sorts the data before calculating the percentile. This helps users effectively analyze large datasets and extract meaningful statistics without needing manual computation or external tools. The PERCENTILE() function is especially useful in scenarios where understanding the range and position of data values is paramount, such as in grading systems, financial analysis, and more.