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[MySQL] The difference between DROP, DELETE and TRUNCATE in SQL

2024-07-11

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Preface

When using SQL for database operations, we often need to delete data. SQL provides several different commands to accomplish this task, including DROP, DELETE, and TRUNCATE. Although all three commands can be used to remove data, their behaviors and effects are different. Understanding these differences is very important for managing databases effectively and securely. In this article, we will discuss the differences between these three commands in detail.


1. The difference between DROP, DELETE and TRUNCATE

  • DROP: This command will remove the entire table structure and data to free up storage space. Once executed, all data and table definitions will be permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. In addition, indexes, triggers, constraints, etc. associated with the table will also be deleted. For example:
DROP TABLE tableName;