Data sets in Tableau

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A data set contains the data used to build visualizations. Every bar chart, scatter plot, or line chart has a connected database or spreadsheet that supplies the data. Data can come from different sources:
 * Spreadsheets: A spreadsheet, such as Microsoft Excel or Google Spreadsheets, organizes data in a flat structure, which means the records are stored as single rows of data.
 * Relational database: Relational databases store data in multiple tables, with each row assigned a unique identifier. Users pull data from different tables together using Structured Query Language (SQL). The "relational" aspect indicates a logical connection between different tables.
 * Cloud data: Sometimes, organizations prefer to store their data in the cloud so they do not have to support on-premise servers. This includes data stored in such places as Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure.