Day 70 – SQL DROP TABLE and TRUNCATE TABLE Keywords
SQL DROP TABLE and TRUNCATE TABLE keywords are used to remove all data and the table structure from a table in a database. Although both commands have similar functionality, they differ in how they accomplish the task.
The DROP TABLE Keyword:
The DROP TABLE keyword is used to remove an entire table from a database, including all data, indexes, and constraints associated with the table. The basic syntax for using the DROP TABLE keyword is as follows:
DROP TABLE table_name;
Here, table_name is the name of the table that you want to drop.
For example, to drop a table named “Customers”, the SQL statement would be:
DROP TABLE Customers;
This would remove the entire “Customers” table from the database.
It’s important to note that the DROP TABLE command is a permanent action and cannot be undone. Therefore, it’s recommended to use the DROP TABLE command with caution and to always make a backup of the table or the database before executing a DROP TABLE statement.
The TRUNCATE TABLE Keyword:
The TRUNCATE TABLE keyword is used to remove all data from a table, but it preserves the table structure, indexes, and constraints. The basic syntax for using the TRUNCATE TABLE keyword is as follows:
TRUNCATE TABLE table_name;
Here, table_name is the name of the table that you want to truncate.
For example, to truncate a table named “Customers”, the SQL statement would be:
TRUNCATE TABLE Customers;
This would remove all data from the “Customers” table but would preserve the table structure, indexes, and constraints.
It’s important to note that the TRUNCATE TABLE command is also a permanent action and cannot be undone. Therefore, it’s recommended to use the TRUNCATE TABLE command with caution and to always make a backup of the table or the database before executing a TRUNCATE TABLE statement.