Most data sources allow the option of either connecting live or extracting the data. However, some cloud-based data sources require an extract. Conversely, OLAP data sources cannot be extracted and require live connections.

When using a live connection, Tableau issues queries directly to the data source (or uses data in the cache, if possible). When you extract the data, Tableau pulls some or all of the data from the original source and stores it in an extract file. Prior to version 10.5, Tableau used a Tableau Data Extract (.tde) file. Starting with version 10.5, Tableau uses Hyper extracts (.hyper) and will convert .tde files to .hyper as you update older workbooks.

Extracts extend the way in which Tableau works with data. Consider the following diagram:

The fundamental paradigm of how Tableau works with data does not change, but you'll notice that Tableau is now querying and getting results from the extract. Data can be retrieved from the source again to refresh the extract. Thus, each extract is a snapshot of the data source at the time of the latest refresh. Extracts offer the benefit of being portable and extremely efficient.