Filter shelf vs filter card in Tableau - Quick Revision & Key Differences

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the Filter Shelf in Tableau?

The Filter Shelf is a place where you drag fields to apply filters to your entire worksheet or view. It controls which data is included or excluded before visualization.

beginner

What is a Filter Card in Tableau?

A Filter Card is a visual control on the worksheet that lets users interactively change filter settings, like selecting values or ranges, directly on the dashboard or worksheet.

intermediate

How does the Filter Shelf differ from the Filter Card?

The Filter Shelf is where filters are applied behind the scenes to control data, while the Filter Card is the visible control users see to adjust those filters interactively.

intermediate

Can you hide a Filter Card but keep the filter active?

Yes, you can keep a filter on the Filter Shelf active without showing its Filter Card on the worksheet, so the data is filtered but users don’t see or change the filter.

beginner

Why use a Filter Card in a dashboard?

Filter Cards let dashboard users easily change filter settings themselves, making the dashboard interactive and customizable without needing to edit the workbook.

Where do you drag fields to apply filters in Tableau?

A Data Pane

B Filter Card

C Marks Card

D Filter Shelf

The Filter Shelf is where you drag fields to apply filters that control the data shown.

What lets users interactively change filter settings on a worksheet?

A Filter Card

B Data Source

C Filter Shelf

D Analytics Pane

Filter Cards are visible controls that users can use to adjust filters interactively.

Can a filter be active without showing a Filter Card?

A Only in Tableau Prep

B No, Filter Card must be visible

C Yes, by using the Filter Shelf only

D Only if published online

Filters on the Filter Shelf can be active without showing their Filter Cards.

Which is true about Filter Cards?

A They allow user interaction

B They create new data

C They store data

D They are hidden controls

Filter Cards allow users to interactively change filter settings.

What is the main purpose of the Filter Shelf?

A To display filters to users

B To apply filters to data behind the scenes

C To create charts

D To connect to data sources

The Filter Shelf applies filters to control which data is included in the view.

Explain the difference between the Filter Shelf and the Filter Card in Tableau.

Think about where filters are set versus where users see and change them.

Why might you choose to hide a Filter Card but keep the filter active on the Filter Shelf?

Consider situations where you want fixed filtering but no user interaction.