Which SQL command is used to modify records based on specific criteria?

The SQL command used to modify records based on specific criteria is the UPDATE command. This command allows users to change existing data within a table in a database.

When using the UPDATE statement, you specify which table you want to modify, set the new values for the fields that need to be updated, and define the criteria that determine which records should be affected. For instance, if you want to update the salary of employees in a specific department, you can conditionally specify the department in the WHERE clause. This selective approach enables precise modifications without altering data that should remain unchanged.

In contrast, the other SQL commands serve different purposes: DELETE is used to remove records from a table, INSERT adds new records, and SELECT retrieves data from the database without modifying it. Therefore, when it comes to modifying existing records, the UPDATE command is the correct choice.