Which operation choice is used to gather information from the target?

The operation choice that is used to gather information from the target is querying. In the context of ServiceNow Discovery, querying is a crucial process that involves sending requests to the target systems to retrieve specific data. This information can include details about hardware configurations, software installations, network configurations, and various other attributes pertinent to the systems being discovered.

When performing a query operation, it typically involves using protocols like SNMP, WMI, or various APIs to extract relevant information directly from the target systems. This process ensures that the data collected is accurate and up-to-date, making it fundamental for creating a comprehensive configuration management database (CMDB) and for effective IT asset management.

The other options relate to different functions but do not specifically denote the process of gathering data from a target. Parsing, for instance, usually involves interpreting or structuring data that has already been collected rather than retrieving it. The term "data" is a broad concept and does not refer to any specific operational action. The option 'action' implies carrying out a task or operation but does not inherently involve the process of gathering information from the target systems. Thus, the term query aligns directly with the essential goal of collecting data within the Discovery process.