In Tableau, data types refer to the type of data that a field contains. There are several different data types in Tableau, and each one is represented by a specific icon in the data pane.

Here are the most common data types in Tableau:

  • Number: A numeric data type that can contain integers, decimals, or any other numeric value. Number fields are often used for quantitative measures such as sales, profits, or counts.
  • Date: A data type that represents a specific point in time. Date fields are often used to track events or transactions over time, and can be formatted and aggregated in a variety of ways.
  • String: A data type that represents text or alphanumeric values. String fields are often used for categorical dimensions such as names, descriptions, or labels.
  • Boolean: A data type that represents a true/false value. Boolean fields are often used to represent yes/no or on/off values.
  • Geometry: A data type that represents spatial data, such as points, lines, or polygons. Geometry fields are often used to create maps or spatial visualizations in Tableau.

In Tableau, it is important to correctly identify the data type of each field, as this determines how the data can be used and analyzed. For example, you can only perform mathematical operations on numeric fields, and you can only apply date functions to date fields.

I hope this helps to give you an idea of the different data types in Tableau!