Which SQL clause is commonly used to filter records from a query?

The clause commonly used to filter records from a query is the WHERE clause. This clause allows you to specify conditions that the data must meet for it to be included in the result set. It applies directly to the rows in the table, making it essential for querying specific data based on defined criteria.

In a SQL query, the WHERE clause can include various operators to refine the selection of records. For instance, it can use comparisons such as equal to, greater than, less than, and logical operators like AND, OR, and NOT. This versatility is what makes the WHERE clause a fundamental tool in SQL for precise data retrieval.

Other options, while related to querying, serve different purposes. The HAVING clause is used to filter records after the GROUP BY operation, typically for aggregate functions, which is not the primary role in filtering individual records. The SELECT clause is primarily used to specify which columns to retrieve in the result, rather than for filtering. FILTER, while a potential concept in SQL, is not a standard clause used for filtering records in the same way as WHERE.