What is the main difference between .pbix and .pbit file formats in Power BI?

The distinction between the .pbix and .pbit file formats in Power BI lies primarily in their intended uses and functionalities. The .pbix file format serves as the primary file format for Power BI project files, containing not only the visualizations and report layouts but also the underlying data that the report draws from. This makes it a comprehensive package for working on and sharing reports that include both data and analytical components.

In contrast, the .pbit format represents a template file. It is designed to store the structure of a Power BI report, including its visuals and measures, but does not include the actual data itself. This allows users to create a template with pre-defined layouts and functionalities that can be reused for different datasets without carrying the original data. Templates in .pbit format streamline the report creation process by providing a reusable framework.

Therefore, the assertion that .pbix stores data, while .pbit is a template, accurately captures the fundamental difference between these two formats, enabling users to understand how to utilize them effectively within Power BI projects.