Is PYTH an oracle?

Could you please elaborate on whether PYTH qualifies as an oracle in the realm of cryptocurrency and finance? I'm particularly interested in understanding its functionality, characteristics, and how it compares to other oracle solutions in the market. Could you also discuss its reliability, scalability, and potential use cases in decentralized finance applications? It would be helpful if you could provide insights into its technological architecture and how it integrates with smart contracts and blockchain platforms. Thank you for your clarification.