analytics-dictionary / term / bi & reporting

Ad hoc analysis

Ad hoc analysis is a one-off investigation to answer a specific question, rather than a recurring report.

Written by Reflective Data experts · updated Oct 5, 2026

It typically happens in SQL, notebooks or an exploration tool. If the same ad hoc question comes up repeatedly, it is a candidate for a governed metric or dashboard.

Self-service tools reduce the load on analysts for these requests.

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Data visualization

Data visualization is presenting data in charts, maps and graphics so patterns are easy to see.

drill-down.md

Drill-down

Drill-down lets you move from a summary to the underlying detail, for example from country to…

metabase.md

Metabase

Metabase is an open-source business intelligence tool for simple, self-serve exploration of data.

tableau.md

Tableau

Tableau is a visual analytics platform known for flexible, interactive visualisations.

power-bi.md

Power BI

Power BI is Microsoft business intelligence platform for modelling data and building reports and dashboards.

data-storytelling.md

Data storytelling

Data storytelling is combining data, visuals and narrative to explain what is happening and what to…

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