When is it more appropriate to use a binding rather than a facet?

Using a binding is particularly appropriate when you need to reference user information or set initial selections. This is because bindings allow for direct interactions between the components of the application or dashboard and the underlying data, enabling dynamic updates to the visualizations based on user input. For instance, if a user selects a specific item from a dropdown menu, a binding can ensure that the associated visualizations or metrics reflect that selection in real-time.

In contrast, faceting is typically used for segmenting data into distinct groups based on certain criteria, allowing for parallel comparisons across those segments. While faceting provides an excellent way to explore datasets visually, it does not inherently handle user input in the way that bindings do.

Considering the context of the other choices, using binding when connecting multiple datasets would be less common, as binding is generally more effective for aligning specific components rather than for aggregating different datasets. Similarly, using bindings for a single query may not leverage their full potential, since the dynamic interactions that bindings provide are often more significant when multiple components are involved. Lastly, the reference to faceting being available suggests circumstances where faceting might be the preferred choice, further distinguishing its use from that of bindings.