Which SQL statement is used to update existing records in a table?

The SQL statement used to update existing records in a table is known as the UPDATE statement. This command allows users to modify existing data in one or more rows of a table. When constructing an UPDATE statement, it is crucial to specify which records to update by using a WHERE clause; otherwise, all records in the table will be affected.

For example, the syntax typically looks like this:

UPDATE table_name

SET column1 = value1, column2 = value2

WHERE condition;

In this syntax, table_name identifies the table to be updated, SET specifies which columns to modify and their new values, and the WHERE clause determines the specific records that will be updated.

Other options like INSERT and DELETE serve different purposes: INSERT is used for adding new records, while DELETE is for removing existing records from a table. MODIFY is not a standard SQL command for updating data, making UPDATE the only appropriate choice for this action.