A data engineer must gather recurring product data from a company that provides inventory information. The company endorses connecting through their dedicated API. Which of the following answers describes how an engineer would likely access this data?
Access the provider’s repository and copy its contents into the analytics environment as needed
Extract data from the webpage layout by analyzing HTML structure using a script
Retrieve data using an authentication token via the service’s JSON interface
Download spreadsheet files manually based on available reports
Retrieving the data using an authentication token through the service’s interface ensures a stable and secure exchange supported by the data provider. Other techniques rely on structure that can change or require additional manual effort, which can disrupt or delay the process and do not apply to using an API as the question states. Copying entire repositories often leads to excessive overhead and may include unrelated information, while script-based HTML parsing can break if the page layout changes.
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What is an authentication token and why is it used for accessing APIs?
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What is a JSON interface, and how does it relate to APIs?
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Why is an API more reliable than web scraping or manual downloads for data collection?