What statement is used to specify criteria for data extraction from an SQL database?

The SELECT statement is specifically designed for querying and extracting data from a SQL database. It allows users to specify particular columns, conditions, and filters on the data that they want to retrieve, making it a powerful tool for accessing information stored within the database.

When using the SELECT statement, you can retrieve data from one or more tables, apply various WHERE clauses to filter results, and use aggregate functions to summarize the information. This capability to customize data extraction is why the SELECT statement is fundamental for anyone working with SQL databases, particularly in analytics and reporting contexts.

In contrast, the other statements serve different purposes: the INSERT statement adds new records to the database; the UPDATE statement modifies existing records; and the DELETE statement removes records from the database. None of these options are intended for the purpose of extracting data, which solidifies the SELECT statement's role as the appropriate choice for this question.