Same Variable in multiple measure

[Saxon202202]

Hi,

I am very new to new Power BI. Can you please explain about variable (VAR)? How can I use it? Where should I use it? 

Can I use the same variable in multiple place within the same measure or using the same variable in different measure? It will affect the report performance?

[parry2k · Accepted solution]

@Saxon202202 var are local to the measure, you cannot use it across the measures, yes you can use it in the measure as many times as you want. It is basically storing the value and resuing it rather than computing it again and again which can have a performance impact. 

For example, if you have a measure called Sales Amount  and want to have a condition if sales amount > 100 then color is "green", if sales amount > 50 then color is "yellow" otherwise "red", see the measure below with and without var

Color Measure = 
//in this case sales measure will be evaluated until condition is true
SWITCH ( TRUE()
  [Sales Measure] > 100, "Green",
  [Sales Measure] > 50, "Yellow",
  "Red"
)

Color Measure = 
//in this case sales measures will be evaluated once and store in a variable
VAR __sales = [Sales Measure]
SWITCH ( TRUE()
  __sales > 100, "Green",
  __sales > 50, "Yellow",
  "Red"
)

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