D
Desktop
The main authoring app for Windows and Mac. Build views, calculations and dashboards.
Tableau software
Tableau software, explained without the jargon
Tableau is not one program but a family of tools that cover the full path from messy data to shared insight. Here is what each piece does and who needs it.
The lineup
Which Tableau software does what
P
Prep
Clean, combine and reshape data visually before it ever reaches a chart.
S
Server
Self-hosted site where teams publish, schedule refreshes and control access.
C
Cloud
The same sharing experience, hosted for you so there is nothing to maintain.
How it fits together
A typical Tableau software workflow
Imagine a retail team. An analyst cleans weekly sales exports in Prep, builds the report in Desktop, and publishes it to a shared site. Store managers open the dashboard in a browser and never touch a file.
Smaller teams skip steps. A single person may only use Desktop and send packaged workbooks by email, and that is perfectly fine.
Prepare
Tidy columns, join tables, remove duplicates.
Author
Design charts and dashboards in Desktop.
Publish
Send the result to a site your colleagues can open.
Choosing a plan
Three common ways to buy Tableau software
Names and bundles vary by region and over time, so treat this as a map and confirm details with sales.
Creator
For people who build.
- Tableau Desktop
- Prep for data shaping
- Publish and edit on the web
Explorer
For people who dig deeper.
- Edit existing dashboards on the web
- Ask new questions of published data
- Share with teammates
Viewer
For people who consume.
- Open dashboards in a browser
- Filter and interact
- Subscribe to updates
What Tableau software connects to
Connectors are built in, and extra drivers can be added when your database needs one.
Glossary
Words you will meet
- Workbook
- A file that holds your sheets, dashboards and data connections.
- Extract
- A compressed snapshot of data stored for speed and offline use.
- Dimension
- A category field, such as region or product.
- Measure
- A number you can sum or average, such as sales.
- Dashboard
- Several views combined on one screen.
Questions
Tableau software FAQ
Is Tableau software free?
A trial exists, and a limited public option is available for sharing open data. Regular professional use needs a paid license.
Does Tableau software need a server?
No. Desktop works on its own. A server or cloud site becomes useful when many people need to see the same reports.
Which operating systems are covered?
Desktop runs on Windows and Mac. Web access works from any modern browser.
Where do I download it?
See the Tableau download page for a quick start, or the Desktop download guide for installer details.
Build your Tableau setup, one piece at a time
Start with Desktop, add the rest when your team is ready.