In Appian, what is primarily used to retrieve data based on certain criteria?

The correct answer is that records are primarily used in Appian to retrieve data based on specific criteria. In Appian, records act as a powerful means to gather, organize, and display data from various data sources or entities, allowing users to easily access and interact with that information.

Records are designed to streamline data retrieval by defining the necessary queries and filtering criteria that determine which data sets are shown. They encapsulate not only the data fields but also how that data is displayed, providing a user-friendly interface for interactions. This makes records essential for applications that need to present data dynamically according to user-defined conditions.

Options like process models, site settings, and user groups serve different functions within Appian. Process models primarily facilitate the automation of business processes rather than retrieving data. Site settings manage the display and behavior of sites but do not focus on data retrieval specifics. User groups represent collections of users for access control and permissions, which is unrelated to the process of querying or retrieving data directly. Therefore, records stand out as the primary mechanism for data retrieval based on criteria in Appian.