What is a custom visual in Power BI?

A custom visual in Power BI refers to a third-party or user-defined visualization that extends the default set of visuals available within the platform. This capability allows users to create tailored visual representations of their data that meet specific needs or preferences, enhancing the overall data visualization experience.

Custom visuals can be developed using JavaScript and the Power BI Visuals SDK, enabling developers to design visuals that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and suited to particular datasets or user requirements. By incorporating custom visuals, users can effectively communicate insights, trends, and patterns in their data that may not be possible with the standard visualizations provided by Power BI.

Standard visuals offer predefined options for data representation, but they may not cater to every unique scenario. This is where the flexibility of custom visuals becomes valuable, as they can fill in gaps and offer unique functionalities tailored to particular data contexts. As a result, utilizing custom visuals can significantly enhance the interactivity and informativeness of reports and dashboards created in Power BI.