Can Webflow connect to an external data source and use that data as if it was an internal collection, or is the only option to use the API to manually push data into Webflow?

Yes, Webflow provides the capability to connect to external data sources and use that data as if it was an internal collection within your project. This feature is called "Dynamic Embeds" in Webflow.

With Dynamic Embeds, you can connect to external data sources using custom code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and display the retrieved data on your Webflow pages. This allows you to leverage data from external sources, such as APIs, databases, or third-party services, to dynamically populate elements on your site.

To achieve this, you can make use of Webflow's Embed element, where you can insert your custom code to fetch data from the external source and display it on your page. You can also update the content dynamically using JavaScript and handle user interactions accordingly.

By utilizing Dynamic Embeds, you have the flexibility to display and manipulate external data seamlessly within your Webflow project. You can make your website interactive and dynamic, even if the data is sourced externally.

However, it's important to note that Dynamic Embeds require custom coding skills as you'll need to write the necessary logic to fetch and display the data. If you're unfamiliar with coding, you may need to seek assistance from a developer or utilize Webflow's CMS and collection features to manage and display your data more easily.