What functionality does a Web Data Connector provide to a Data Analyst?

A Web Data Connector (WDC) is a powerful feature within Tableau that allows users to connect to web-based data sources, specifically APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). By using a WDC, data analysts can pull in data from various online services and platforms that offer RESTful APIs or similar web services. This capability is essential for integrating live data from online sources, such as social media platforms, online databases, and other web applications directly into Tableau for analysis.

The ability to connect to APIs enables data analysts to access real-time data, automate data retrieval processes, and integrate diverse datasets from different systems into a cohesive analysis. APIs can provide more dynamic and granular data compared to traditional sources, allowing analysts to create more insightful dashboards and reports that reflect up-to-date information.

While connecting to flat files, databases, and spreadsheets are important functionalities that Tableau supports through various means, they do not represent the specific role of a Web Data Connector. The Web Data Connector is uniquely designed to interact with web-based data sources, making it the correct answer in the context of this question.