In which scenario would you primarily use flat files as a source in data integration?

Using flat files as a source in data integration is particularly suited for legacy system data migrations. This scenario typically involves transferring data from older systems that may not be compatible with more modern databases or data formats. Flat files serve as a simple and effective means of exporting data, allowing organizations to extract information from legacy systems in a structured format that is easy to manipulate during the migration process.

Flat files, such as CSV or TXT, can represent large volumes of data and often come with minimal overhead in terms of data processing, making them ideal for migration tasks where the focus is on reliability and simplicity. They also provide a straightforward way to validate and transform data before loading it into a new system.

In contrast, scenarios involving real-time data updates or high-frequency transactional data typically require more dynamic data processing capabilities and technologies that facilitate continuous data flow, which flat files alone cannot provide. Data from APIs, on the other hand, often involves more complex integration techniques to capture real-time data, meaning flat files are less suitable in those cases as well.