SQL DELETE vs DROP: Database Differences
Delete and drop both involve removing data or objects, but they target different items.
- The DELETE statement is used to remove rows of data from a table. By using the DELETE statement, you can delete data rows from a table that meet specific criteria without affecting the table structure.
– We need to have a meeting to discuss the project details.
– We should schedule a meeting to go over the project specifics.
DELETE FROM table_name WHERE condition;
- The DROP statement is used to delete objects in the database, such as tables, views, indexes, etc. Using the DROP statement will completely remove the specified object, including the object itself and all related data.
– The old newspaper was thrown into the trash can.
– The outdated newspaper was disposed of in the trash bin.
DROP TABLE table_name;
Therefore, “delete” is used to delete data rows from a table, while “drop” is used to delete an entire table or other database objects. It is important to choose the appropriate operation based on the specific situation.