Mastering BLANK in Power BI - Part 1: BLANK vs. 0 vs. NULL An Integrated Perspective across SQL, Power Query, and DAX
1. Why You Must Understand the Difference Between BLANK and 0 In Power BI analysis, the distinction between a BLANK and a 0 isn't just a matter of how a value looks. Most analysts start feeling the weight of this difference only after they’ve gained some real-world experience. Early on, it’s easy to think that as long as the numbers match, everything is fine. However, as reports grow and more stakeholders get involved, this becomes a factor you simply cannot ignore. This is a core design element that dictates aggregation results, visualization behavior, system performance, and the overall reliability of your decision-making. Especially in a data pipeline flowing from SQL to Power Query and then to DAX, the same "empty" spot can take on entirely different meanings at each layer. One of the most frequent errors in data analysis is treating 0, NULL, and BLANK as the same thing. However, these three values: Originate in different locations. Follow different calculation meth...