In SQL, what is the purpose of the WHERE clause?

The WHERE clause in SQL is essential for filtering records that meet specific criteria. By specifying a condition in the WHERE clause, you can retrieve a subset of records from a database that satisfies that condition. For instance, in a database of customers, you could use the WHERE clause to select only those customers who live in a particular city or have made certain purchases. This allows for more targeted data retrieval, enhancing the efficiency and relevance of your queries.

The other choices do not pertain to the function of the WHERE clause. Defining the order of returned records is achieved using the ORDER BY clause, while creating new tables or adding new records is accomplished using the CREATE TABLE and INSERT statements, respectively.