---
title: "Leverage sparsity for optimal performance"
slug: "leverage-sparsity-for-optimal-performance"
updated: 2026-03-18T15:22:18Z
published: 2026-03-18T15:22:18Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.pigment.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Leverage sparsity for optimal performance

​​​​​​​Metrics perform better in Pigment on sparse versus dense data. This page explains sparsity and how to optimize performance.

## What is sparsity and why is Pigment’s engine sparse?

A sparse engine means that empty values are not filled by default with a 0 or a FALSE: your datasets can include blanks. This allows for much faster computation than in a data-dense engine. In Pigment, calculations run on as little data as possible.

While there are instances where you need to have values in every cell, there are other instances where you can use `BLANK` instead of zeros or `FALSE`. Therefore, the goal is to ensure your Blocks are as sparse as possible.

First, identify the most dense Metrics:

1. Open the **Blocks** dropdown in the sidebar and select **All Blocks**.
2. In the main pane, select **Display** top right.
3. Toggle **Maximum Size** to On.
4. **Maximum Size** is added as a column header. Select it to sort your Metrics by Maximum Size. This gives you an indication of the densest Metrics in your Application.
5. Select the **Performance Insights**button top right. For more information, see [Use Performance Insights to Optimize your Application](/v1/docs/use-performance-insights).
6. Toggle **Density** to On. This shows you whether these Metrics are at risk of becoming your densest Metrics.
7. Select the **Dimensions** tab in the main pane and select **Display** top right.
8. Toggle **Number of items**to On. Assess whether you can reduce the number of Dimensions in your Metrics or reduce their size.

Then make dense Metrics more sparse:

- Review functions like `IFBLANK`,`ISBLANK`, `ISNOTBLANK` and see if they are needed, or if the output of the formula is being populated with values that can be replaced with `BLANK` instead.
- Review any usage of zeros instead of `BLANK` and see if it is needed.
- Review any usage of `FALSE` instead of `BLANK` and see if it is needed. In particular for Access Rights, if you are on the current version of Access Rights, use `BLANK` instead of `FALSE`. This results in the same behavior and produces a sparser Metric.