What is the result of applying a relate in ArcMap to a stand-alone table and a layer attribute table?

Applying a relate in ArcMap establishes a logical connection between the stand-alone table and the layer's attribute table based on a common field, without altering the data structure of either table. This relationship allows users to query and visualize related data from both tables while keeping them separate. By defining the relationship, it facilitates operations such as selecting records in one table that correspond to records in another, enhancing the data analysis capabilities within ArcMap.

The relate does not involve physically appending data from one table into another, nor does it create new feature classes. It simply serves as a mechanism to link data conceptually, enabling users to access related information efficiently.