The `DROP TABLE` statement is a crucial part of database management. It allows you to permanently remove tables from a database. This is different from deleting data *within* a table, which leaves the table structure intact. Dropping a table is an irreversible action, so it's essential to be certain before executing this command. It's often used in scenarios like resetting a database to a clean state, migrating to a new schema, or when a table is no longer needed. Carefully consider the implications before using this command, as data loss is possible. It's generally a good practice to back up your data before performing any potentially destructive operations like this. In some database systems, you might need to specify the table name explicitly. For example, `DROP TABLE customers;` would remove the table named 'customers'. In other systems, you might have a more complex approach to dropping multiple tables at once, which is often handled by scripting.