What does the 'READ TABLE' statement do?

The 'READ TABLE' statement is used to retrieve a specific entry from an internal table based on given criteria, such as an index or a key. Internal tables in ABAP serve as data structures that can hold multiple records. When you use the 'READ TABLE' statement, you can specify the index of the entry you want to read, or you can use a specific key to locate the entry within the internal table. If the specified entry exists, the statement places the corresponding data into a work area, which can then be manipulated or displayed further in the program. This functionality is essential for effectively accessing and handling data stored in internal tables in ABAP programming.