What is a key benefit of cross-filtering in visual reports?

Cross-filtering in visual reports enhances the interactivity and context of data presentations by allowing users to apply one filter to a set of visuals simultaneously. The key benefit of cross-filtering is that it enables contextual analysis of selected data. When a user interacts with one visual element (like clicking on a bar in a bar chart), the other visuals automatically adjust to reflect only the relevant data that corresponds to the selection made. This allows for a deeper understanding of relationships within the data and helps users to analyze patterns or specific subsets without losing sight of how those selections fit into the overall dataset.

In this way, cross-filtering not only makes the data more dynamic but also aids users in drawing meaningful insights while they explore different dimensions or aspects of the data simultaneously. The filtering of unrelated data does occur as a by-product, but the primary advantage lies in the rich context it provides about the selected data, thereby supporting informed decision-making.