What is the main function of Power Query in Power BI?

The main function of Power Query in Power BI is to acquire, transform, and load data from various sources into Power BI. This tool allows users to connect to a wide range of data sources, including databases, online services, and flat files. Once connected, Power Query enables users to perform data transformations, such as filtering rows, changing data types, merging tables, and pivoting/unpivoting data, all of which are essential steps to prepare the data for analysis and visualization.

By using Power Query, users can shape and clean their data to ensure it is in the right format and structure before it is loaded into the Power BI model. This preprocessing ensures that the data presented in reports and dashboards is accurate and relevant, ultimately leading to better insights and decision-making.