Import vs Direct Query in Power BI

Import mode loads data into the Power BI model; DirectQuery runs queries against the source at query time. Dual mode and composite models let you mix both in one model.

When to use which

Use Import when you need the best report performance, rich DAX, and can afford refresh windows. Use DirectQuery when data must be near real-time or too large to import. Prefer pushing filters and aggregations to the source (query folding) in DirectQuery to avoid slow reports.

Composite models (Import + DirectQuery) help when most data is imported but you need live data for a few tables; be mindful of cross-source logic and performance.