VertiPaq: the in-memory column store behind Import and Direct Lake models. It scans data and does early aggregation, handing results up to the formula engine, which plans queries; most DAX performance work aims to lighten its load.
Also called SE.
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Terms in this definition
- VertiPaq
The in-memory engine behind Power BI; Direct Lake pulls Delta and Parquet data into it.
- Direct Lake
Mode for Fabric semantic models that loads Delta or Parquet files from OneLake straight into VertiPaq, giving almost import-level performance without duplicating data.
- Formula engine
Plans how a DAX query will be answered inside a semantic model, then asks the storage engine, VertiPaq for Import and Direct Lake, to fetch data and do the first aggregations.
- DAX
Short for Data Analysis Expressions, the formula language you write measures, calculated columns and row-level security rules in, within tabular semantic models in Power BI, Excel Power Pivot or Analysis Services.
- Performance
Routing method in Traffic Manager that directs users to whichever endpoint offers the lowest latency.
- ELT
Extract, load, transform: raw data lands in the target system first and is transformed there. See ETL for the opposite order.
Related terms
- IFERROR
Catches an error in a DAX expression and returns a fallback value. Like ISERROR it triggers additional storage engine scans, so cleaning data upstream in Power Query, testing with IF, or calling DIVIDE are better options.