What is the purpose of the "Publish to Web" feature in Power BI?

The "Publish to Web" feature in Power BI serves the specific purpose of making reports publicly accessible on the internet. When reports are published using this feature, they can be embedded in websites or shared via a URL, allowing anyone with the link to view the report without the need for a Power BI account. This functionality is particularly useful for organizations that wish to share insights and data visualizations widely with customers, stakeholders, or the general public, while keeping their internal data secure.

The ability to share reports in such a public manner enhances engagement and allows for broader dissemination of information. It's important to note that because the published reports are accessible to anyone who has the link, sensitive or confidential data should not be included when using this feature.

In contrast, the other choices pertain to different functionalities that Power BI offers. Editing data directly in reports is not possible through the "Publish to Web" feature, and customization of report layouts occurs within the Power BI Desktop environment before publishing the report rather than as a function of the web feature. Additionally, while Power BI can integrate with other online services, this is not a function of the "Publish to Web" feature specifically, but rather a broader capability of the Power BI platform.