What is DirectQuery model vs Import model?

< 1 min read

Import model loads data into Power BI memory during refresh.
Reports run fast because data is stored in VertiPaq engine.
But data freshness depends on scheduled refresh.
In one project, we used Import for historical sales data to improve performance.
Dashboards loaded quickly even with large datasets.
DirectQuery model does not store data in Power BI.
It sends queries directly to the source each time a visual is used.
We used DirectQuery for live operational data where real-time reporting was required.
However, performance depends on the source system and query optimization.

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