What are the differences between Tableau Desktop and Tableau Server?

Tableau Desktop and Tableau Server serve distinct yet complementary roles in the Tableau ecosystem, each tailored to different aspects of data visualization and collaboration. Tableau Desktop is primarily a development tool used for creating and designing visualizations. It offers a rich set of features that empower users to connect to various data sources, perform analytics, and build interactive dashboards. Users can manipulate data using drag-and-drop functionality and leverage advanced features such as calculated fields, parameters, and various visualization options. Tableau Desktop is installed on a local machine, enabling users to create and refine visual analytics in a standalone environment. Once a user has created a dashboard, they can publish it to Tableau Server or Tableau Online for broader access. On the other hand, Tableau Server is a collaboration platform that allows organizations to share, distribute, and manage Tableau visualizations at scale. It enables teams to access dashboards created in Tableau Desktop via a web browser, making it easier for users to engage with data insights without needing to have Tableau Desktop installed on their devices. Tableau Server provides features for user management, security, and governance, ensuring that sensitive data is protected and that users have appropriate access rights. Furthermore, it supports scheduling data refreshes, which keeps the visualizations up to date with the latest data. In summary, Tableau Desktop focuses on creation and design, while Tableau Server emphasizes collaboration, sharing, and management of visual analytics. Both are integral to empowering organizations to leverage their data effectively, and users can find additional detailed information on the official Tableau website.