Truncate vs Delete vs Drop: A Side-by-Side Comparison

When working with databases in SQL, there are several ways to remove data from a table or delete the table itself. However, not all of these methods are created equal, and it's important to understand the differences between them. In this post, we'll compare three common SQL statements for removing data or tables: TRUNCATE, DELETE, and DROP.

Statement	Description	Speed	Logging	Storage Space	Rollback
TRUNCATE	Removes all data from a table, but leaves the table structure intact.	Fastest	No logging	Uses minimal storage space	Cannot be undone
DELETE	Removes rows from a table one by one.	Slower than TRUNCATE	Logs each row deletion	Uses more storage space	Can be undone
DROP	Deletes the entire table, including all data and the table structure.	Slowest	No logging	Uses maximum storage space	Cannot be undone

TRUNCATE

The TRUNCATE statement removes all data from a table, but leaves the table structure intact. Here's an example:

TRUNCATE TABLE my_table;

This statement is much faster than using the DELETE statement to remove data from the table because it doesn't log each row deletion, and it doesn't use as much storage space. However, it cannot be undone, and it requires the user to have the DROP privilege.

DELETE

The DELETE statement is used to remove rows from a table one by one. Here's an example:

DELETE FROM my_table WHERE id = 123;

This statement is slower than TRUNCATE, but it's more flexible. You can use it to delete specific rows based on criteria, or you can delete all rows in a table if you don't include a WHERE clause. It also allows you to roll back the changes if needed.

DROP

The DROP statement deletes the entire table, including all data and the table structure. Here's an example:

DROP TABLE my_table;

This statement is the most destructive, and it cannot be undone. It's useful if you need to completely remove a table and its data from a database. However, you should be very careful when using this statement, as it permanently removes all data in the table.

Conclusion

In conclusion, TRUNCATE, DELETE, and DROP statements are all used to remove data from a SQL table or delete the table itself. However, each statement has its own use case and should be used carefully. Understanding the differences between these statements will help you choose the right one for your specific use case and avoid making any costly mistakes.

References

• TRUNCATE TABLE statement
• DELETE statement
• DROP TABLE statement