The INSERT statement is used to add new rows to a table in a relational database. It's a core part of the Data Manipulation Language (DML) and allows you to populate your database with fresh data. Understanding how to use INSERT effectively is essential for any SQL developer. This statement specifies the table to insert into and the values for the columns. It's important to ensure the data types match the columns' definitions. For example, you can't insert a string into a numeric column without proper conversion. The INSERT statement can be used in various ways, from inserting a single row to inserting multiple rows at once, depending on your needs. A common use case is adding new customer records to a customer table, or adding product details to a product inventory table.