What does the SELECT statement do in SQL?

The SELECT statement in SQL is specifically designed to retrieve data from one or more tables in a database. It allows users to specify exactly which columns of data they want to see, as well as filtering conditions to control which rows of data are returned.

When a SELECT statement is executed, it queries the database and returns the specified data in a result set. This functionality is crucial for data analysis, reporting, and application development, as it provides a means for users and applications to access and utilize the data stored in a database without modifying it.

In contrast, other SQL commands serve different purposes: for instance, inserting new data is accomplished by the INSERT statement, while updating existing records uses the UPDATE statement, and removing data employs the DELETE statement. Understanding the purpose of the SELECT statement is fundamental for anyone working with databases, as data retrieval is a primary operation in database management.