The BETWEEN operator in SQL is a useful clause for selecting rows where a column's value falls within a specified range. It simplifies the process of filtering data compared to using multiple comparison operators. Instead of writing `column > lower_bound AND column < upper_bound`, you can use `BETWEEN lower_bound AND upper_bound`. This makes your queries more readable and maintainable. The BETWEEN operator is inclusive, meaning that the lower and upper bounds are part of the range. It's particularly helpful when dealing with date ranges, numerical ranges, or character ranges (e.g., alphabetical ranges). For example, you might want to find all orders placed between two specific dates or all products priced between a minimum and maximum value.