Reports serve to present data from a database in a structured and readable format. They are used to summarize and communicate information clearly and efficiently to the users, often in the form of tables, charts, or graphs, which make it easier to interpret and make decisions based on data. While 'Visualizing data' is closely related, it is generally just part of what reports in databases aim to achieve, which is broader and includes summarization and communication. 'Importing data into the database' is incorrect because it refers to the process of adding new data to a database, not summarizing or presenting existing data. ‘Updating records in a database’ is also incorrect as it refers to modifying the data within the database, not generating a summary or presentation of the data.