William L. answered • 10/07/21
Data Scientist and Evaluation Specialist
Continuous data (typically recorded as green measures) is numerical data which has a range of potential values. For example, if you had monetary data in a column it would be continuous as it has a potentially endless range of options.
Discrete data (typically recorded as blue dimensions) is any data which has a limited number of potential values. This is typically categorical data, but can also be numerical data like a count of people. The key for discrete data is that it is countable and distinct.
As far as Tableau is concerned the real distinction is that discrete data can't have partial values (i.e. you can't have 2.5 parents) but continuous data spans any value (you could be 5.5ft tall).
