What is the purpose of the CREATE statement in SQL?

The purpose of the CREATE statement in SQL is to establish new database objects, which can include databases, tables, indexes, or even views. When utilizing the CREATE statement, you're essentially defining the structure of these objects for the first time. For example, when creating a new table, the statement specifies the table's name and its columns, along with their data types and any constraints that may apply.

This capability is fundamental to database management, as it allows developers and database administrators to set up the necessary structures to store and organize data efficiently. By creating these objects, you lay the groundwork for performing various operations, such as inserting, updating, or querying data related to these newly created entities.

The other options relate to functions that either alter existing structures or retrieve data but do not address the primary role of the CREATE statement in establishing new elements within a database system.