# The 3 (+2) ways to Get Data in Power BI, simply explained

DevFeed: [The 3 (+2) ways to Get Data in Power BI, simply explained](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/the-3-2-ways-to-get-data-in-power-bi-simply-explained-40843.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://mutto.fyi/posts/2024/04/types-powerbi-connection/>)

Published: 2024-04-01T00:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Mutt0-ds Notes](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/mutt0-ds-notes.md>)

Topics: [data](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/data.md>), [datasets](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/datasets.md>), [Database](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/database.md>)

Tags: [data](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/data.md>), [database](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/database.md>), [dataset](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/dataset.md>), [excel](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/excel.md>), [live-data](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/live-data.md>), [performance](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/performance.md>), [query](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/query.md>), [semantic](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/semantic.md>), [tutorials](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/tutorials.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial explains how Power BI Desktop stores and retrieves report data through Import Mode, DirectQuery, Live Connection, and Composite Models. It describes the trade-offs between local copied data and live queries, including refresh needs, scalability, and performance.

## Source excerpt

There's quite a bit of confusion swirling around about how Power BI reports gather data. Where is the data actually stored? How frequently...