# Discrete headers, continuous axes and date parts

*Tableau Desktop Foundations Study Guide · Understanding Tableau Concepts · Last updated October 29, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-desktop-foundations/understanding-tableau-concepts/discrete-headers-continuous-axes-and-date-parts*

Blue discrete fields create headers and categorical colors, green continuous fields create axes and quantitative color legends; how to convert between them, which fields can't be continuous, and why a discrete MONTH date part differs from a continuous month value.

- Certification: Salesforce Tableau Desktop Foundations
- Exam section: Understanding Tableau Concepts
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-desktop-foundations

**Official exam objective:**

> Understand discrete and continuous fields: Explain how discrete fields are displayed; Explain how continuous fields are displayed; Explain the difference between discrete date parts and continuous date values.

## What the exam expects

- Predict what a discrete (blue) field creates on Rows, Columns and Color: headers and a categorical palette.
- Predict what a continuous (green) field creates on Rows, Columns and Color: an axis and a quantitative legend.
- Convert a field between discrete and continuous on a pill or in the Data pane, and know which fields can't be continuous.
- Explain the difference between a discrete date part (October of any year) and a continuous date value (October 2023), and pick the one a view needs.

Key terms:
- **Discrete:** "individually separate and distinct"; blue; creates headers.
- **Continuous:** "forming an unbroken whole, without interruption"; green; creates an axis.
- **Date part:** a discrete date level that aggregates to one part of a date, such as October of any year.
- **Date value:** a continuous date level, the actual date truncated to a level, such as October 2023.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Discrete field on Rows or Columns | Creates headers; the field is blue | [Dimensions and Measures, Blue and Green](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/datafields_typesandroles.htm) |
| Continuous field on Rows or Columns | Creates an axis; the field is green | [Dimensions and Measures, Blue and Green](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/datafields_typesandroles.htm) |
| Discrete field on Color | Categorical palette, a color per value | [Color Palettes and Effects](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/viewparts_marks_markproperties_color.htm) |
| Continuous field on Color | Quantitative legend with a continuous range of colors | [Color Palettes and Effects](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/viewparts_marks_markproperties_color.htm) |
| String or Boolean dimension | Can't be continuous | [Dimensions and Measures, Blue and Green](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/datafields_typesandroles.htm) |
| Measure changed to Discrete | Headers replace the axis; still a measure, still aggregated | [Dimensions and Measures, Blue and Green](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/datafields_typesandroles.htm) |
| Dates entering the view | Discrete by default | [Continuous Dates](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/dates_continuous.htm) |
| Date part | Aggregates to one part of a date, such as October of any year | [Change Date Levels](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/dates_levels.htm) |
| Date value | Actual date truncated to a level, such as October 2023; creates an axis | [Change Date Levels](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/dates_levels.htm), [Continuous Dates](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/dates_continuous.htm) |
| Continuous by default | Data pane, right-click, Convert to Continuous | [Continuous Dates](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/dates_continuous.htm) |

## Check yourself

- When is an ordinal palette a better fit than a categorical one for a discrete field?
- Why does drilling into YEAR(Order Date) add a second field?
- When do the Hour, Minute and Second levels add nothing to a view?
- Which date level gives record-level dates?

## Sources

- [Dimensions and Measures, Blue and Green](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/datafields_typesandroles.htm)
- [Continuous Dates](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/dates_continuous.htm)
- [Change Date Levels](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/dates_levels.htm)
- [Convert Fields between Discrete and Continuous](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/datafields_typesandroles_convertdisctocont.htm)
- [Convert a Measure to a Dimension](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/datafields_typesandroles_convertdimtomeas.htm)
- [Color Palettes and Effects](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/viewparts_marks_markproperties_color.htm)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 9 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Tableau Desktop Foundations pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams