What is the purpose of the UPDATE statement in SQL?

The purpose of the UPDATE statement in SQL is to modify existing data in a table. This command allows users to change the values of specific columns for a given row or rows in a database table, based on certain criteria defined in the WHERE clause. By utilizing the UPDATE statement, database administrators and developers can keep the data current and accurate without needing to delete and reinsert records, which would be inefficient and could lead to loss of data integrity.

For example, if a company needs to update the address of a customer in a customer database, the UPDATE statement would allow that specific field for that customer record to be changed, thereby maintaining all other information intact. This flexibility and efficiency make the UPDATE statement a critical function in SQL for data management and manipulation.