What is the purpose of the SELECT statement in SQL?

The purpose of the SELECT statement in SQL is to retrieve data from a database. It is a fundamental component of querying databases, allowing users to specify which data they want to view by defining particular fields and conditions. Using the SELECT statement, users can extract specific information from one or more tables, enabling them to analyze and display the data in a structured format.

The SELECT statement can be enhanced with various clauses, such as WHERE, ORDER BY, and GROUP BY, to filter, sort, and aggregate the data retrieved as per user requirements. This capability makes it an essential tool for data analysis and reporting within relational database management systems.

Other options, such as creating new structures or altering and deleting data, relate to different SQL commands. The CREATE statement is used for creating database structures, the UPDATE statement is used to modify existing data, and the DELETE statement is employed to remove data from a database. Each of these commands serves distinct purposes, but none fulfill the role of retrieving data, which is the primary function of the SELECT statement.