Power Platform Cheat Sheet for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know in One Place

Microsoft Power Platform comes with a set of core tools and many supporting components. At a high level, it’s important to understand what the platform includes, how each part is used, and where it fits in.

To make this easier, I’ve created a helpful cheat sheet that gives you a quick overview of the platform and its key building blocks—along with short, simple descriptions.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to refresh your knowledge, this guide is designed to help beginners grasp the big picture and move forward with confidence.

Core tools of Power Platform

Tool	Description / Usage	Admin / Studio URL
Power Apps	Build custom business apps without writing extensive code. Supports Canvas & Model-driven apps.	https://make.powerapps.com/  (Power Apps Studio)
Power Automate	Automate workflows across apps and services to increase productivity.	https://make.powerautomate.com/  (Power Automate Designer)
Power BI	Visualize data and gain insights with interactive dashboards and reports.	Power BI Desktop (for designing), Power BI Service (for publishing) https://app.powerbi.com/
Copilot Studio	Build intelligent chatbots using natural language (formerly Power Virtual Agents)	https://copilotstudio.microsoft.com/
Power Pages	Build secure, low-code business websites for external users.	https://make.powerpages.microsoft.com/
AI Builder / AI Hub	Add prebuilt AI models to your apps and automations	https://make.powerapps.com/  or https://make.powerautomate.com/
Dataverse	Cloud-based, secure data platform for storing and managing data used by apps.	Managed Via https://make.powerapps.com/
Managed Environments	Provides governance, monitoring, and security capabilities across environments.	Managed via Power Platform Admin Center https://admin.powerplatform.microsoft.com/

Category	Component / Tech	Purpose	Description / Where It’s Used
Core Low-Code Tools	Power Apps	Build custom business apps	Canvas and Model-driven apps to solve business problems with minimal code
	Power Automate	Automate tasks and workflows	Automate emails, approvals, integrations, and more
	Power BI	Visualize and analyze data	Create interactive dashboards and reports for informed decision-making
	Copilot Studio	Build AI chatbots	Formerly Power Virtual Agents; used to create conversational bots without coding
	Power Pages	Build low-code websites	Create secure, data-connected portals for internal or external users
	AI Builder	Add AI capabilities easily	Use prebuilt AI models for tasks like form processing, prediction, or object detection
Data Platform	Dataverse	Central data storage	Unified and secure data platform that powers Power Platform apps
	SharePoint / Excel	Simple data sources	Easy-to-use data sources for quick app building
	SQL / Oracle / MySQL	Structured external databases	Connect via standard/premium connectors or on-prem data gateway
Connectivity	Connectors	Connect to 900+ apps and data sources	Access and interact with services like Outlook, Salesforce, Twitter, and more
	Custom Connectors	Integrate custom APIs	Build your own connector to interact with external systems
Logic & Expressions	Power Fx	App formulas and logic	Low-code Excel-like language used in Canvas apps and parts of Dataverse & Copilot Studio
	JSON	Data structure handling in flows	Used in Power Automate to parse responses, format data
	OData Queries	Advanced data filtering	Used in Power Automate and Dataverse for optimized queries
Customization & Dev	JavaScript	Form-level custom logic	Used in Model-driven apps for onLoad, onChange, validations, etc.
	TypeScript	Build reusable components (PCF)	Used in Power Apps Component Framework (PCF) development
	HTML / CSS	UI customization	Used in Power Pages to control layout, styling, and embed custom content
	Liquid Template Language	Dynamic content rendering	Used in Power Pages to personalize data-bound content
	C# (.NET)	Advanced logic and plugins	For Model-driven plugins, workflows, and Dataverse extensions
	YAML / PowerShell / CLI	DevOps and automation	Used for ALM (Application Lifecycle Management) and CI/CD pipelines
Authentication & Security	Azure AD / OAuth	Identity and access management	Authenticate users, manage roles and permissions across apps
	Web Roles / Table Permissions	Power Pages security	Define who can see/edit portal data
	Data Loss Prevention (DLP)	Governance rules	Prevent risky connector combinations in flows and apps
App Management	Solutions	Package and move apps across environments	Organize and deploy related components (apps, flows, tables, etc.)
	Environments	Isolate development, test, production spaces	Logical containers to manage apps and data across business units
	Managed Environments	Advanced governance & monitoring	Apply guardrails, track usage, and enforce best practices at scale
Admin & Monitoring	Power Platform Admin Center	Platform-level control and oversight	Admins can monitor apps, usage, security, and user activity
	Center of Excellence (CoE)	Templates and tools for governance	Starter kit to promote best practices, visibility, and governance across org-wide usage
Learning & Growth	Microsoft Learn	Structured self-paced learning	Free online learning paths for all levels
	Certifications	Validate skills and boost careers	PL-900, PL-100, PL-200, PL-400, PL-600
	Community	Peer learning and contribution	Forums, blogs, GitHub samples, webinars, user groups

Disclaimer: This cheat sheet is intended as a simplified reference and may not cover every single feature or advanced capability of the Power Platform. As the platform evolves, some components may also change over time.