Difference Between DROP and TRUNCATE in SQL

Last Updated: 10th August, 2023

"Drop" in SQL refers to the removal of a table or database from a server. "Truncate" is a SQL command that removes all rows from a table but keeps the table's structure intact. In this lesson, we will learn about the difference between drop and truncate, how to Drop and Truncate and when the individuals are used.

What are Drop and Truncate?

Drop and Truncate are two common SQL statements utilized to erase information from a table. The DROP in SQL statement for all time erases the desired table and all the information stored in it. In contrast, the TRUNCATE in SQL statement expels all information from a table but does not erase the table itself. Both TRUNCATE and DROP in SQL commands are effective once you remove a large number of records rapidly, but they have distinctive implications for the information stored within the table. The DROP command is more permanent and should be utilized cautiously, whereas the TRUNCATE command is more frequently utilized to reset a table to its empty state. Let’s learn about DROP and TRUNCATE and DROP and TRUNCATE difference in detail.

DROP in SQL

DROP is an SQL command utilized to erase an object such as a table, database, index, view, or stored procedure. It could be a DDL (Data Definition Language) statement that's utilized to remove a schema object from the database. DROP is utilized to remove a table or database from the database in conjunction with all its related information. DROP could be a permanent operation and cannot be fixed, so caution should be taken when utilizing the command.

Syntax

DROP TABLE table_name;

Example

DROP TABLE orders;

This command will delete the table called 'orders' from the database. All data stored within the table will be lost.

TRUNCATE in SQL

Let’s understand in detail what is TRUNCATE in SQL. TRUNCATE could be a SQL statement that's utilized to erase all the records from a table in a database. It is distinctive from the Delete statement, which only erases the rows that match an indicated condition. TRUNCATE is commonly used when deleting huge amounts of information from a database table because it is faster and more effective than a Delete statement. TRUNCATE, too resets the table's identity column, in case any, back to its seed value.

Syntax

TRUNCATE TABLE table_name;

Example

TRUNCATE TABLE orders;

This statement will delete all the rows in the 'orders' table and reset the identity column, if any.

Difference between DROP and TRUNCATE

The following table provides a comprehensive comparison highlighting the difference between DROP and TRUNCATE in SQL.

Conclusion

This lesson clarifies the contrasts between the SQL commands "Drop" and "Truncate". "Drop" permanently erases a table or database and all stored information, whereas "Truncate" removes all information from a table but keeps the table structure intact. Both commands are useful for rapidly erasing expansive amounts of information, but "Drop" should be used cautiously because it may be a permanent operation.

Key Takeaways on the Difference between DROP and TRUNCATE

1. DROP is used to delete entire tables or views from a database.
2. TRUNCATE deletes all the records in a table but not the table itself.
3. Both TRUNCATE and DROP in SQL can be rolled back in case of accidental deletions.
4. When using DROP, foreign key constraints must be dropped manually, but TRUNCATE automatically drops them.
5. DROP is slower than TRUNCATE as it requires more resources to delete the entire table and its indices.
6. TRUNCATE is faster and takes fewer resources to delete all the records from the table.

Quiz

1. What is the syntax to drop a database in SQL? 

1. DROP DATABASE database_name; 
2. DROP TABLE database_name; 
3. DELETE DATABASE database_name; 
4. DELETE TABLE database_name;

Answer: a. DROP DATABASE database_name;

2. What is the syntax to truncate a table in SQL? 

1. TRUNCATE TABLE table_name; 
2. DELETE TABLE table_name;  
3. DROP TABLE table_name;  
4. DROP DATABASE table_name;

Answer: a. TRUNCATE TABLE table_name;

3. What is the difference between DROP and TRUNCATE commands? 

1. DROP deletes the data permanently while TRUNCATE resets the auto-increment value. 
2. DROP deletes the table permanently, while TRUNCATE only deletes the data. 
3. DROP deletes the data permanently, while TRUNCATE only deletes the table. 
4. DROP only deletes the table, while TRUNCATE deletes the data permanently.

Answer: b. DROP deletes the table permanently while TRUNCATE only deletes the data.

4. What happens to the foreign key constraints when a table is truncated? 

1. The foreign key constraints are deleted. 
2. The foreign key constraints are maintained. 
3.  The foreign key constraints are reset. 
4. The foreign key constraints are updated.

Answer: b. The foreign key constraints are maintained.