SQL Truncate vs Delete: A Comprehensive Comparison

Are you an aspiring Data Analyst? Then, you must have encountered SQL at least once in your lifetime! If so, the ‘SQL TRUNCATE vs DELETE’ is no exception for you! Let's embark on this knowledge journey and take you to a clear picture by raising the curtains on this debate. Let’s continue diving further! 

Table of Contents 

1) What is a TRUNCATE Command

    a) How to Use TRUNCATE in SQL? 

2. What is a DELETE Command?   

    b) How to Use DELETE in SQL? 

3) Differences Between TRUNCATE and DELETE 

4) Conclusion 

What is a TRUNCATE Command? 

As the name suggests, the TRUNCATE command is a command used more often for  Standard Query Language (SQL) applications. Its primary function is to delete all rows from a table in one go, making it empty. It is faster than the `DELETE` command because it doesn't log individual row deletions and cannot be undone. This quality makes the functionality faster, particularly for huge tables with thousands of rows and columns.
 

How to Use TRUNCATE in SQL? 

Let’s understand with a real-life example to give you a better idea. Suppose you have the table named “Employees.” 

Now, if you want to delete the table text, you first need to enter the ‘DELETE’ command and remove each row individually. However, with the assistance of the ‘TRUNCATE’ command, you can delete all the rows at once with just a single click. Here is the syntax of the command: 

TRUNCATE TABLE employees;

After executing this command, the employee's table will be empty, but the table structure will remain intact: 

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What is a DELETE Command? 

As the name suggests, the 'DELETE' command removes the table by eliminating each row individually with separate commands. As a result, the removing operations tend to become slow, as you are entering multiple commands each time. 

How to Use DELETE in SQL? 

Let’s understand the earlier example to give you a better idea. This time, suppose you want to eliminate a particular row in the table—for instance, 'id number 2.'  

You enter the command as described below: 

DELETE FROM employees WHERE id = 2; 

This command will delete the row with an id equal to 2 from the employee's table. 

After executing this command, the employee's table will look like this: 

Differences Between TRUNCATE and DELETE 

The ‘TRUNCATE’ and ‘DELETE’ commands seem similar. They both carry the same functions. But they share some common differences: SQL TRUNCATE vs DELETE. Those differences are described in the form of a table below: 

Conclusion 

We hope you found this blog helpful and informative. Understanding the differences between SQL TRUNCATE VS `DELETE commands in SQL is crucial to managing the enormous databases of thousands of rows and columns. TRUNCATE is ideal for quickly emptying a table without logging individual deletions, making it faster but irreversible. `DELETE`, on the other hand, allows for specific row removal with full logging and rollback capabilities. 

By leveraging the correct command based on your needs, you can optimise database operations and enhance your skillset in data analytics. 

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