Final answer:
In Tableau, dropping a dimension or measure onto the rows or columns shelf creates discrete headers or a continuous axis, respectively. Filters do not create an axis but limit the data displayed. Axis labels provide variable names and units of measurement, contributing to an understanding of the graph's data representation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you drop an item into the rows or columns shelf in Tableau, it will display different things based on whether that item is an axis, measure, dimension, or a filter. If you drop a dimension onto the shelf, it will create discrete headers or an axis. Dropping a measure on the shelf will produce a continuous axis and possibly a quantitative scale. Dimensions create categories, while measures provide the values that can be analyzed within those categories, often represented graphically. Finally, if you were to use an item as a filter, it would not create an axis; instead, it would limit the data shown based on the filter’s criteria.
Axes are commonly equipped with labels that provide information about the data, including the variable's name and the units of measurement. For example, if we are talking about a graph where the x-axis represents volume and the y-axis represents pressure, the axes labels might be 'Volume (in³)' and 'Pressure (in Hg)', where 'in³' and 'in Hg' are the units. This format helps to understand what each axis on the graph represents