Which procedure can be used to load data directly into the existing Autonomous Database tables?

The choice of using DBMS_CLOUD.COPY_DATA is appropriate for loading data directly into existing Autonomous Database tables. This procedure is specifically designed for bulk data loading from various sources, such as external files stored in cloud storage, directly into a specified table within the Autonomous Database.

DBMS_CLOUD.COPY_DATA enables you to efficiently transfer large volumes of data while ensuring that the target table is populated correctly. It supports various formats, such as CSV, Parquet, and others, making it versatile for different data types. This procedure handles tasks like data formatting, validation, and mapping to the existing table structures, which is crucial when integrating new data into a database.

The alternative procedures listed serve different purposes. For instance, DBMS_CLOUD.LIST_FILES is used to list files available in a specific directory of cloud storage and does not perform any data loading. DBMS_CLOUD.CREATE_EXTERNAL_TABLE is utilized for defining external tables that allow querying data in cloud storage without physically loading it into the database tables. DBMS_CLOUD.PUT_OBJECT is responsible for uploading files to cloud storage rather than loading that data into database tables. Thus, the role of DBMS_CLOUD.COPY_DATA as a dedicated data loading utility highlights its effectiveness for this specific task.