Answer: To call code that executes outside of Snowflake

The correct answer is A because external functions in Snowflake are specifically designed to call code that executes outside of Snowflake's environment, such as external APIs, cloud services, or custom applications. This allows Snowflake to integrate with external systems and leverage external processing capabilities. While option C (sharing data with external parties) might seem related, that functionality is primarily handled through Snowflake's data sharing features rather than external functions. Option B (running functions in another Snowflake database) is handled through cross-database queries, and option D (ingesting data from on-premises sources) is typically managed through Snowpipe or other data ingestion methods.

Author: LeetQuiz Editorial Team