User-Defined Functions (UDFs) in Power BI: overview and applications

Proposed session for SQLBits 2026

TL; DR

In this session, User-Defined Functions (UDFs) will be explained and applied to real business cases, also going into the difference between model dependent and model independent UDFs

Session Details

User-Defined Functions (UDFs) allow the designer to define calculations in a function in DAX that can be re-used in other calculations without copying and pasting the related DAX code. This is a total change of prespective in Power BI that will save time and DAX maintainance overheads and open a new range of possibilities for the designer. In this session several examples will be shown, while the functionality will be analyzed in detail, all in practical terms.

3 things you'll get out of this session

-Understand the purpose of UDFs -Understand how to create and apply them to your model -Understand how to make them usable in other semantic models in your corporation