The command used to retrieve records in SQL is SELECT. This command is fundamental in SQL as it allows users to specify exactly which data they want to query from a database. When you use SELECT, you can choose specific columns from a table, filter results with conditions, and even sort or group data based on your requirements.
For example, a basic SQL statement using SELECT would look like this: SELECT column1, column2 FROM table_name;. This retrieves the specified columns from the defined table. The use of SELECT is essential for querying and analyzing data effectively within relational databases.
The other options like RETRIEVE, GET, and FETCH are not standard SQL commands for retrieving records. While some database systems may have specific commands that are remarkably similar, they are not universally recognized or used in SQL syntax. Therefore, SELECT is the correct and universally accepted command for data retrieval in SQL.