BigData / Tableau Interview Questions
What is the difference between Tableau Desktop and Tableau Reader?
Both are desktop applications, but only one of them can actually build content — the other exists purely so people without a full license can still view work someone else created.
| Tableau Desktop | Tableau Reader |
| Licensed, paid product for authoring workbooks. | Free product for viewing packaged workbooks only. |
| Can connect to live data sources and databases. | Can only open .twbx files with a bundled extract; no live connections. |
| Full editing: worksheets, dashboards, calculations, filters. | View and interact with existing filters/parameters, but can't edit the underlying design. |
Tableau Reader is essentially a distribution mechanism: an author builds and packages a workbook (.twbx) in Desktop, then shares that file with someone who only has Reader installed, and that person can explore filters and parameters within the workbook, but can't create new worksheets, add fields, or connect to a different data source.
Can Tableau Reader connect to a live database?
What can a Tableau Reader user do within an opened workbook?
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