What does the ORDER BY command do in SQL?

The ORDER BY command in SQL is used to sort the results of a query in either ascending or descending order based on one or more specified columns. When you include an ORDER BY clause in a SQL statement, you can define the arrangement of the data returned, which is crucial for presenting the information in a meaningful way.

For instance, if you have a list of students with their scores and you want to display them from the highest score to the lowest, you would use ORDER BY with the score column and specify descending order. Conversely, if you want to display them from the lowest to the highest score, you would sort them in ascending order. This command enhances readability and allows users to find the information they need more easily by organizing the results.

The other options describe different SQL operations: filtering records is accomplished using the WHERE clause, grouping records is done with the GROUP BY command, and deleting records involves the DELETE command. The focus of the ORDER BY command is strictly on sorting, making the first choice the correct answer.