Delete vs Drop: Database Commands Explained

Delete and drop are two distinct operations in databases, each with its own unique function and impact.

1. Deletion is an operation used to remove records (rows) from a table in a database. The delete statement can be used to remove records from a table based on specified conditions, but the table itself will not be deleted. The deleted records will be permanently removed from the table, but the structure and definition of the table will remain. It is important to be cautious when using the delete statement, as the deleted data cannot be recovered.
2. Delete: The delete operation in a database is used to remove a table (or other object). Using the delete statement can remove the entire table, including all records and the structure definition of the table. Using the delete statement will completely delete the table and cannot be recovered. Therefore, it is important to be cautious when using the delete statement to ensure that important tables are not accidentally deleted.

Therefore, the main difference between delete and drop is that delete is used to delete records in a table, while drop is used to delete the entire table. In everyday database usage, delete is typically more commonly used to delete records, while drop is rarely used to delete an entire table.