Solution

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) enable real-time data collection by connecting directly to a data source, allowing seamless updates as new information becomes available. APIs are particularly useful for monitoring consumer behavior on websites, as they can retrieve data like page visits, clicks, and interactions in real-time. By providing a continuous stream of updated information, APIs help businesses respond immediately to consumer behavior trends, giving them an advantage in a fast-paced environment. Option A (Surveys) is incorrect because surveys are generally not real-time and require manual input from respondents, which introduces a delay. Option B (Web scraping) is incorrect as it often involves extracting static data from websites and is typically limited by website policies, making it less suited for real-time data collection. Option C (Database extraction) is incorrect as databases hold stored data, and although they may be updated, they don’t provide continuous real-time updates. Option E (Historical data files) is incorrect because historical data lacks real-time aspects and represents past information.