# Creating your first application The application is at the core of Qlik Sense. An application is loaded with data, and the visualizations in the application allow you to explore the data. You can also share your application with your colleagues. But first, you have to create and build your application. ## Creating a basic application This section describes how to build a basic application using some sample data. ### Preparing the data All applications need data. We have supplied some sample data for you to use when following the steps in this section. You can, of course use your own. If you want to use the sample data, expand the section below, and copy the whole table, including the column headings, into an empty Excel file on your computer. [](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Apps/create-first-app.htm) #### Sample data Sample data to create a basic application | Cost | Customer Number | Date | Item Description | Sales | Sales Quantity | Sales Person Number | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | -147.42 | 10025049 | 12/31/2012 | Landslide Salt | -124.58 | -1 | 113 | | -71.78 | 10025049 | 12/31/2012 | Big Time Home Style French Fries | -98.77 | -1 | 113 | | -6.95 | 10017828 | 12/31/2013 | Even Better String Cheese | -8.75 | -1 | 109 | | 0 | 10005006 | 12/31/2013 | Blue Label Canned Peas | 0 | 1250 | 167 | | 0 | 10009633 | 12/31/2013 | Frozen Mushroom Pizza | 0 | 1 | 127 | | 0 | 10009633 | 12/31/2013 | Great Pumpernickel Bread | 0 | 2 | 127 | | 0 | 10013238 | 12/31/2013 | Blue Label Canned Peas | 0 | 12500 | 117 | | 0 | 10021223 | 12/31/2013 | Imagine Ice Cream | 0 | 221 | 183 | | 0 | 10022168 | 01/15/2014 | Blue Label Canned Peas | 0 | 2500 | 154 | | 0 | 10023447 | 01/15/2014 | Golden Lime Popsicles | 0 | 120 | 115 | | 0 | 10025249 | 01/15/2014 | Blue Label Canned Peas | 0 | 1250 | 162 | | 0.09 | 10024006 | 01/15/2014 | Blue Label Canned Peas | 0 | 10 | 157 | | 0.13 | 10024006 | 01/15/2014 | Blue Label Beef Soup | 0 | 10 | 157 | | 0.29 | 10024006 | 01/15/2014 | Club Sour Cream | 0 | 22 | 157 | | 0.37 | 10024006 | 01/15/2014 | Tell Tale Red Pepper | 0 | 4 | 157 | | 2.15 | 10024006 | 01/15/2014 | Nationeel Apple Fruit Roll | 0 | 10 | 157 | | 5.14 | 10023783 | 02/23/2014 | Nationeel Cheese Crackers | 0 | 1 | 175 | | 5.14 | 10023783 | 02/23/2014 | Nationeel Graham Crackers | 0 | 1 | 175 | | 17.5 | 10021911 | 02/23/2014 | Just Right Canned String Beans | 0 | 10 | 175 | | 18.69 | 10009633 | 03/05/2014 | Tell Tale Broccoli | 0 | 1 | 127 | | 30.34 | 10009633 | 03/05/2014 | Cutting Edge Turkey Hot Dogs | 0 | 1 | 127 | | 52.59 | 10009633 | 03/05/2014 | Ebony Fresh Lima Beans | 0 | 1 | 127 | | 52.59 | 10009633 | 03/05/2014 | Ebony Fresh Lima Beans | 0 | 1 | 127 | | 95.35 | 10009633 | 03/05/2014 | Tell Tale Limes | 0 | 1 | 127 | | 112.73 | 10009633 | 03/05/2014 | Just Right Regular Ramen Soup | 0 | 2 | 127 | | 206.89 | 10009633 | 03/05/2014 | Golden Frozen Cheese Pizza | 0 | 1 | 127 | | 0.22 | 10011734 | 03/05/2014 | Best Choice Sesame Crackers | 0.7 | 2 | 155 | | 0.22 | 10021472 | 03/05/2014 | Best Choice Sesame Crackers | 0.71 | 2 | 114 | | 0.33 | 10011734 | 08/05/2014 | Great Pumpernickel Bread | 1.48 | 2 | 155 | | 0.4 | 10009606 | 08/05/2014 | Best Oatmeal | 1.54 | 4 | 118 | | 0.55 | 10016548 | 08/05/2014 | Best Choice Sesame Crackers | 1.75 | 5 | 153 | | 0.93 | 10009606 | 08/05/2014 | Carlson Mild Cheddar Cheese | 2.05 | 1 | 118 | | 0.4 | 10023447 | 08/05/2014 | Big Time Fajita French Fries | 2.39 | 2 | 115 | | 0.84 | 10016548 | 08/05/2014 | Best Choice Beef Jerky | 2.73 | 2 | 153 | | 0.99 | 10009606 | 08/05/2014 | Ebony Plums | 2.93 | 5 | 118 | | 0.64 | 10009606 | 08/05/2014 | Club String Cheese | 2.99 | 8 | 118 | | 1.01 | 10009606 | 08/05/2014 | Shady Lake Ravioli | 3.17 | 2 | 118 | | 2.2 | 10025919 | 08/05/2014 | Golden Chicken TV Dinner | 3.21 | 1 | 108 | | 1.09 | 10016548 | 09/24/2014 | Landslide Grape Jam | 3.47 | 1 | 153 | ### Creating the application and adding a visualization 1. Start Qlik Sense. For more information, see [Starting Qlik Sense](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/UserInterface/start.htm) and [Starting Qlik Sense Desktop](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/UserInterface/start-dt.htm). 2. Create an empty application. For more information, see [Creating an application](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Apps/create-app.htm). 3. Add data to the application by dragging and dropping your data (Excel) file to the hub or into the empty application. For more information, see [Adding data to the application](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/LoadData/adding-data.htm). If you are adding data from a single table, Sheet will open. 4. Create a sheet. For more information, see [Structuring an application using sheets](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Sheets/create-sheets-for-structure.htm). 5. Add a visualization to the sheet. For example, you could: * Use Insight Advisor to create visualizations based on your data and then add them to your sheet. For more information, see [Creating visualizations with Insight Advisor](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Insights/insight-advisor-create-visualizations.htm). * Drag and drop a field into your sheet and drag and drop another field on to it then to create a suggested visualization. For more information, see [Creating visualizations using Insight Advisor chart suggestions](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Visualizations/creating-visualization-assistance.htm). * Add a bar chart. For more information, see [Bar chart](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Visualizations/Bar-Chart/bar-chart.htm). ## Building a more advanced application If you want to build a more advanced application, there are a number of things you can do. * You can create structure in your application by adding more sheets, where each sheet has a specific purpose. For more information, see [Structuring an application using sheets](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Sheets/create-sheets-for-structure.htm). * You can create reusable items that are easy for you and others developing the application to reuse in your own visualizations. For more information, see [Reusing assets with master items](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Assets/work-with-master-items.htm). * You can bookmark important findings, and add text descriptions and thumbnails to applications, sheets, and stories to help others who use your application understand its purpose and how best to use it. For more information, see [Managing applications](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Apps/manage-apps.htm). ## Discovering with the application You can now start using the application for data discovery and analysis. To learn more about interacting with visualizations, see [Exploring data with visualizations](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Selections/make-selection.htm). ## Sharing the application with others If you want others to use and explore your application, you must first publish the application. To learn more about publishing applications, see [Publishing](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/sense/May2026/Subsystems/Hub/Content/Sense_Hub/Publishing/Publish.htm). Related learning: * [Getting started with Qlik Sense](https://help.qlik.com/lnk/Getting_started_QS) * [Navigating applications](https://help.qlik.com/lnk/Navigating_apps) ## Learn more * [Getting started with Qlik Sense](https://help.qlik.com/lnk/Getting_started_QS) * [Navigating applications](https://help.qlik.com/lnk/Navigating_apps)