What functionality does time-shifting provide in DQL?

Time-shifting in DQL (Dynatrace Query Language) is a powerful feature that allows for the comparison of metrics across different time periods. The correct choice highlights the ability to compare traffic from the current hour to the same hour exactly one week (7 days) earlier. This capability is vital for identifying trends, patterns, or anomalies in data by providing a direct comparison, which can significantly enhance performance monitoring and analysis.

By comparing metrics from the same time frame in the past, users can better assess changes or fluctuations in traffic, system performance, or user behavior. This functionality is particularly useful for understanding weekly patterns and making informed decisions based on historical data trends.

Other options do not capture the essence of what time-shifting is all about. For instance, displaying only historical data without comparisons lacks the comparative aspect that time-shifting provides. Similarly, automatically adjusting time zones is not directly related to the function of time-shifting but rather pertains to data presentation. Changing the data retention period for analytics pertains to data storage and lifecycle, which again is not the primary focus of time-shifting. Thus, the ability to compare the current metrics with historical ones is what makes the function of time-shifting particularly beneficial for analysis in DQL.