What is the purpose of the PUT_OBJECT subprogram in DBMS_CLOUD?

The PUT_OBJECT subprogram in DBMS_CLOUD is designed specifically for uploading files to cloud storage. This function facilitates the transfer of data from a local environment to a cloud-based storage solution, which is essential for managing large datasets or making data accessible for cloud services such as analytics, data processing, and storage. Using PUT_OBJECT, users can efficiently store files in the cloud, enabling further use of that data in operations like data loading or integration with other cloud services.

The other options, while they relate to different functionalities within database management, do not accurately describe the purpose of PUT_OBJECT. For instance, copying data between databases involves different mechanisms, creating database credentials pertains to security and access management, and validating external tables relates to verifying schema and data consistency for external data sources. These tasks are essential but fall outside the specific functionality provided by the PUT_OBJECT subprogram, which is focused solely on the process of uploading files to cloud storage.