: The specific subset of data being calculated (e.g., a specific year or region selected in a report).

: Calculated on the fly based on report filters; more CPU-efficient and generally recommended for most analytical needs. Key Function Categories

DAX functions are categorized based on the problems they solve: Learn DAX basics in Power BI Desktop

: Computed at data refresh and stored in the model; best for filtering or grouping.

Understanding DAX requires more than just memorizing functions; it requires grasping how data is filtered and evaluated: