Dataset: The source is used to create reports and tiles or visuals.
- A data model (local to PBIX or XLSX) in an Analysis Services Server
- Data could be inside of model or a Direct Query connection to a source.
Report: An individual Power BI Desktop file (PBIX) containing one or more report pages.
- It is built for deep, interactive analysis experience for a given dataset (filters, formatting).
- Each Report is connected to at least one dataset
- Each page is containing one or more visuals or tiles.
Dashboard: A collection of visuals from different reports and, optionally, a pinned.
- It is built to aggregate primary visuals and metrics from multiple datasets.