In SQL, data aggregation refers to the process of grouping data from multiple rows based on certain criteria and summarizing it into a single result using aggregate functions and clauses.

Among other things, it allows to:

• Summarize large sets of data to produce consolidated results such as totals, averages, counts, etc.

• Extract statistical summaries to identify patterns and distributions within the data.

• Reduce the volume of data for easier analysis and reporting.

Some use cases may include:

• Calculating total sales by product category.