Data flow and gateway: when is the gateway involved?

[CCCP]

Hello,
I would like to better understand how to use dataflows and reduce the load on the gateway.

My question is quite simple but I could not find a clear answer.
For example:I create via dataflow an 'entity and then use pbi desktop to import this to my dataset.
The dataflow during the loading phase uses the gateway and creates the entity ,metadata and files saving them on the azure data storage internal to pbi service. In this case the gateway is involved to reach for example my local database table
If instead the process is reverse or better,if I query from pbi destkop the dataflow and import or use directquery (enabling engine compute service) on the dataflow
will the gateway still be involved?

Will the flow from the dataflow to my pbi destkop dataset use the gateway,either in case of simple entity import or dataflow in direct query?

Thanks

[arvindsingh802 · Accepted solution]

Gateway will only be involved when data will be accessed from on premise sources from power BI service, it will not be involved at any scenario working with power BI desktop 

So if you connect your PBI desktop to dataflow import/direct query Gateway will not be involved