What is the role of a slicer visual in Power BI?

The role of a slicer visual in Power BI is to apply filters to reports based on specific categories or fields, such as products, dates, or other attributes. This allows users to interactively select what data they want to focus on within the report. By using slicers, users can dynamically segment their data, making it easier to analyze specific subsets and gain insights relevant to their needs.

For example, if you have a report displaying sales data across multiple products, adding a slicer for the product category enables users to filter the report to show only the metrics for a specific product, enhancing data visualization and interpretation. This interactivity is a core feature of Power BI, allowing for a more tailored data exploration experience.

The other roles mentioned, such as creating new datasets or exporting reports, are not functions of slicers. Instead, they relate to different capabilities within Power BI that serve distinct purposes. Similarly, analyzing performance metrics is a broader function of Power BI that can be accomplished through various visuals, but it doesn't specifically pertain to the role of a slicer visual.