Build a Semantic Model

Tableau Semantics is a new Data 360 layer, where you define, govern, and query all your business metrics.

Note

As of October 14, 2025, Data Cloud has been rebranded to Data 360. During this transition, you may see references to Data Cloud in our application and documentation. While the name is new, the functionality and content remains unchanged.

Tableau Semantics operates on top of Data 360 data sources, and powers all consumption experiences that source data from Data 360. This includes Salesforce applications, such as Data 360 Reports, Tableau Next, Intelligent apps, and AI. Tableau Semantics is an integral part of Data 360. It’s applied on top of all the data sources you connect or ingest into Data 360 and serves as a single source of truth for all your consumption layers.

Use Tableau Semantics to create semantic models and semantic definitions to input your data into Data 360 to serve as a single source of truth within Salesforce. Semantic models provide a consistent way to interpret data across Salesforce by mapping your data to familiar business terms and standardized business logic. Tableau Semantics also uses a Query Generator to leverage the data to answer key business questions by sending customizable semantic queries based on your semantic models.

You can create semantic models in Data 360 by using the Semantic Layer tab. If you're a Tableau Next customer, you can also create and manage semantic models in Tableau Next. For more information, see Create Semantic Models and Define Metrics.

You can also use the Tableau Semantics connector for Tableau Desktop and Cloud to connect and use semantic models in Data 360 just like you can in Tableau Next. For more information, see Salesforce Help: Tableau Semantics Connector.

• Get Started with Tableau Semantics
  With Tableau Semantics you can create and manage your semantic models. Before you start using Tableau Semantics, review the required licenses and permissions.
• Semantic Models in Tableau Semantics
  Semantic Models are first—class Salesforce metadata, integrated throughout Data 360 to power analytical and data-driven experiences. The semantic model includes definitions tailored for a specific analytical use case. The model can have one or more data objects. You can create flexible joins and unions across objects and enrich your analysis with calculated dimensions and measures.
• Manage Access to Semantic Models in Tableau Semantics
  Control who can view or edit your semantic models by sharing them with specific users or your entire org. Semantic models are private by default, but you can manage access through the Share option and assign access roles, such as Viewer or Editor.
• Semantic Model Builder in Tableau Semantics
  Use the Semantic Model Builder to build and make changes to your semantic model.
• Use Calculated Fields
  If the underlying data doesn't include all the fields necessary for analysis, you can create fields by using calculations. These fields are called calculated fields. Calculated fields don’t physically exist in the database. They’re based around a formula and can include functions, operators, literals, or other inputs such as existing fields from your dataset.
• Relationships in Tableau Semantics
  A relationship connects different tables based on common fields. Establish relationships between your data objects to enrich your data model without the need to define a join type. Using a relationship to combine objects makes data preparation and analysis easier and more intuitive. It’s recommended you use relationships to combine your data before trying out other options.
• Metrics in Tableau Semantics
  A metric is a KPI tracked over time, such as revenue over the past year. The core components of a metric are a measure or calculated field representing the KPI and a time dimension that tracks its progression over time.
• Tableau Semantics Goals
  Enhance your data with actionable insights by adding business goals to your submetrics. Tableau Semantics goals eliminate the need for external tools and manual processes. You can track your progress in real time, measure your progress consistently, and align data insights with business outcomes.
• Logical Views in Tableau Semantics
  A logical view is a data object that combines objects using joins or unions rather than relationships. Although a logical view is a separate object type in the semantic model, it functions like any data model object (DMO) or data lake object (DLO). Use logical views in relationships, calculated fields, metrics, and other semantic definitions.
• Unions in Tableau Semantics
  In a logical view, use a union to combine and unify multiple data model objects. You can merge datasets that share similar structures, providing a more holistic analysis of data. Appending ‌values from one object to another results in a comprehensive dataset that integrates information across sources.
• Parameters in Tableau Semantics
  A parameter is a variable, such as a number, date, or string, that can replace a constant value in a calculated field and can be used in other functions, such as filtering.
• Shared Dimensions in Tableau Semantics
  Analyze and compare data across multiple fact tables by connecting them through the same dimension tables. Build complex, business-relevant analysis in a clean and trustworthy way, avoiding duplicate relationships and eliminating cycles in your semantic model.
• Currency in Tableau Semantics
  Use currency fields in Tableau Semantics to convert values into the corporate currency based on the settings in the semantic model. A currency field is a specific field type that is automatically associated with a Currency ISO Code field. You can convert data from one currency to the corporate currency when analyzing dashboards, building semantic models, or creating calculated fields. You can also create calculated fields based on currency measures, sort by currency fields, and ensure values are displayed in the corporate currency for global audiences.
• Cardinality in Tableau Semantics
  Define how objects in your Semantic Layer relate to each other to ensure accurate results and faster queries. By setting cardinality, you tell Tableau Semantics how records from one object connect to records in another, helping the system optimize joins, reduce duplicate data, and improve the reliability of your metrics.
• Global Filters in Tableau Semantics
  Create global filters to ensure that all reports share the same focused, consistent baseline data. By restricting data at the model level, you filter out irrelevant records before they reach any downstream visualization.
• Dimension Hierarchies in Tableau Semantics
  Create a dimension hierarchy to provide a defined analysis path for data exploration through consumption layers. Group related dimensions and build a hierarchy using fields from single or multiple objects. This structure sequences consumption layers logically for efficient data exploration, eliminating the need to manually add separate fields to a report.
• Analytics Agent
  Configure your semantic models for Analytics Agent use.
• Testing a Semantic Model in Tableau Semantics
  You can test the semantic model at any point to make sure that it works as expected. Tableau Semantics has a test system that checks that the model works. It runs your model through the Tableau Semantics Query Generator and gives you test results.
• The C360 Semantic Model
  Use the C360 Semantic Data Model (SDM) to get unified and trusted insights when you work across multiple Salesforce products to create cross-cloud KPIs.
• Billing Considerations for Semantic Layer
  Use of the semantic layer impacts the consumption of credits used for billing in these usage types.