What would you use a 17-55 mm camera lens for?

That is a wide angle lens and it is especially good for taking large group shots (like at weddings, etc.) wihtout having to zoom way out or back up really far. This is a bonus because then the subjects in the photo won't look as tiny. It is also excellent for taking scenic photos. It will allow you to get much more in the frame than would a regular 50-80mm lens.

Just taking every day pictures. It's a nice general lens and can usually take fairly fast pictures. It doesn't get too close and it doesn't seem too far away. You could really use it for anything. But if you're looking to take portraits or something, I'd go higher (100-300) just so you could get closer pictures without having to shove the lens in the people's faces

This is a zoom lens, which permits changing the amount seen by the camera. In the 17-28mm range, it is great for wide-angle shots like landscape photos, when you want to capture as much as possible in the photo. It can also be used to take "normal" photos in the 35-55mm range, which mimic a typical camera photo or that of normal eyesight range.

to zoom on an object or ajust distance of object that is looked at with the camera