What is the primary difference between action queries and select queries in Access?

Select queries are designed to retrieve and display data from one or multiple tables or queries without altering the underlying data. They allow users to view specific data by defining criteria and can aggregate data through calculations like sums and averages. The output of a select query is essentially a snapshot of the data that meets the specified criteria, making it pivotal for data analysis and reporting.

On the other hand, action queries are intended for making changes to the data in the database. These queries encompass operations such as updating existing records, deleting records, or adding new records to a table. This modification capability is the defining characteristic of action queries. Therefore, the primary distinction lies in the purpose of these queries: select queries focus on extracting and displaying data, while action queries focus on modifying it.