Final answer:
The SQL statement "SELECT name FROM celebs" is used to retrieve data from the 'name' column in the 'celebs' table, without modifying any data.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary purpose of the statement "SELECT name FROM celebs" in SQL is to retrieve data from the "celebs" table. Specifically, it is designed to select and return the values from the 'name' column of all records within the 'celebs' table. SQL, which stands for Structured Query Language, is used for managing and manipulating relational databases. This particular SQL command does not modify, insert, or delete data; it is solely used to query the database and retrieve information that is already stored there.