Looker Studio: Glossary of Key Terms

Report

A Looker Studio asset that contains a collection of components whose purpose is to visualize and present information/insights derived from your data source.

Component

A widget that you add to your report. This can be a graph, table, or chart. Components can include interactive features, such as date range controls and filter controls.

Components can be annotated with text, shapes, and images.

Connector/Data Source

In Looker Studio, there are two ways to connect your data:

Connector: connects Looker Studio to your data. This creates a data source in Looker Studio.

Data Source: These represent a particular instance of a connector (i.e., Google Analytics or a BigQuery table). Data sources allow you to configure the field and options provided by the connector used to create that connection instance. This allows users who might not have access to the original data a secure way to view the insights and information you are sharing.

Field

A column of data. In Looker Studio, there are two examples of fields:

Dimensions: Measurable things or ways you can categorize your data.

Metrics: Numbers that measure the things contained in the dimensions.

Credentials

The mechanism Looker Studio uses to determine who can see the data it generates/provides.

View/Edit Mode

View Mode: Allows a user to view all the data they are authorized to see and use any interactive controls/filters associated with that data.

Edit Mode: Allows an editor to make changes to a particular Looker Studio asset. You can add/edit/remove data sources, add/edit/remove components, and edit/create/remove interactive controls.

Viewers (Can View) and Sharers (Can Edit)

Can Edit access allows users to share and modify the Looker studio Asset.

Can View access allows users to view the asset but forbids modifying or sharing the asset.