DAX stands for Data Analysis Expressions

DAX stands for Data Analysis Expressions and it is a Microsoft IT language designed to manipulate data with Power BI.

DAX stands for Data Analysis Expressions, it is a Microsoft language designed to manipulate data in Microsoft SSAS Tabular cubes and in Power BI, and in Excel PowerPivot. The DAX library is a Powerful and user-friendly, it offers different type of functions addressing different purposes. The DAX functions can be time intelligence functions or filter functions for example.

DAX abbreviation stands for Data Analysis Expressions

Indeed, the Data Analysis Expressions language combines these functions with operators into formulas to build expressions to manipulate data. The DAX, for Data Analysis Expressions functions can be time intelligence functions or filter functions for example. The Data Analysis Expressions combines these functions with operators into formulas to build expressions to manipulate data.

DAX functions types examples

This list is not exhaustive but simply a few examples of the functions that the DAX language offers:

  • Aggregations functions like SUM or AVERAGE
  • Time and date functions like TODAY, DATEDIFF, MONTH or QUARTER
  • Text functions like REPLACE, CONCATENATE and FORMAT
  • The very innovative Time intelligence functions like PREVIOUSMONTH, SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR or TOTALYTD

Check out our DAX functions section with articles on how to create calculations and aggregations using formulas with simple examples.

Power BI Tutorials using DAX functions

Power BI previous month value with a DAX formula