AWS (Amazon Web Services) Certification Practice Exam

SQL, or Structured Query Language, is primarily used for writing and retrieving data from databases. It is the standard language for interacting with relational database management systems. Through SQL, users can perform various operations such as querying data, updating records, and deleting data. The syntax and commands provided by SQL allow users to communicate effectively with the database to manage and manipulate the stored information.

While securing data from unauthorized access is important in database management, SQL itself does not primarily serve that purpose. Instead, security measures are often implemented alongside SQL, using database roles, permissions, and other security protocols. Storing data across distributed environments pertains more to database architecture and design strategies, like sharding or replication, rather than the function of SQL itself. Optimizing database performance involves techniques and tools that may make use of SQL but does not define the primary function of the language. Thus, the main role of SQL lies in its ability to allow users to write and retrieve data from databases effectively.