What function does the Webhooks API perform in Tableau?

The Webhooks API in Tableau serves the critical function of facilitating real-time communication by sending notifications during specific events, such as when data refreshes occur. When a data source is updated or refreshed, webhook notifications can alert external systems or services, allowing for better integration and automation within a data workflow. This functionality is particularly useful when there's a need to trigger additional actions or processes based on Tableau events.

The other options focus on distinct features or capabilities that are not the primary function of the Webhooks API. For instance, connecting various data sources to Tableau pertains to the process of data integration, which is handled by Tableau's data connection capabilities, not the Webhooks API. Creating interactive dashboards relates to Tableau's visualization tools and user interface functionalities, focusing on data presentation rather than event notifications. Automatically updating data on external servers usually involves data pipelines or ETL processes and does not directly tie into the webhook functionality. Therefore, the Webhooks API’s primary role in sending notifications aligns perfectly with the correct answer.