How does Lightning Connect function?

Lightning Connect is designed to facilitate real-time access to external data sources without the need to store that data within Salesforce. This capability enables organizations to work with extensive datasets residing outside of their Salesforce environment while ensuring that they always have access to the most current data.

By using Lightning Connect, users can connect to various external systems, utilizing OData (Open Data Protocol) to fetch and display data dynamically in Salesforce. This approach minimizes data duplication, enhances data consistency, and streamlines the user experience by allowing seamless integration of external data into Salesforce applications.

The other choices suggest limitations or misconceptions about how Lightning Connect operates. For instance, the idea that it duplicates data into Salesforce contradicts its fundamental function of providing access without the need for data storage. Limiting the use of Lightning Connect to only local data sources does not reflect its functionality, as it is built to connect to a range of external systems. Lastly, the assertion that there are specific formatting requirements for the external data is misleading; while data must be compatible with OData standards for integration, it doesn't require a specific format beyond that protocol.