Dominate Your Data with the 2025 Tableau Desktop Specialist Exam – Unleash Your Inner Analyst!

The presence of an '=' symbol before a field in Tableau signifies that the field is a calculated field. This means that the value displayed within that field is derived from a calculation or computation based on other existing fields within the data source. In Tableau, calculated fields allow users to manipulate their data through mathematical operations, logical expressions, or string transformations.

For instance, if you need to create a field that calculates the total sales by multiplying quantity by unit price, you would define this calculation in a calculated field format. The '=' symbol serves as an indicator to users that the values in this field are not originally present in the dataset but have been created through a formula.

In contrast, other options refer to characteristics of fields that do not apply in this context. A text field simply holds string values and does not involve calculations; a grouping field categorizes data without necessarily performing any computational operation; and a measure field indicates a numeric type that can be aggregated or computed but isn't created through a formula, as indicated by the equals sign.