Can you explain what the term 'View' means in SQL and how it is used?

In SQL, the term "View" is a virtual table that is formed based on the result of a query. A view does not store data physically but displays data from one or more tables.

Used for:

• Simplifying complex queries — you can create a view with the necessary joins and filters, and refer to it as a table.
• Enhancing security — access to certain columns or rows can be restricted by providing access only to the view.
• Providing abstraction — hiding the complex database structure from users.

Example of creating a view:

CREATE VIEW active_users AS
SELECT id, name, email
FROM users
WHERE status = 'active';

Now, you can query active_users as if it were a regular table:

SELECT * FROM active_users;