Deleting a table in Oracle
Introduction
Deleting a table in Oracle can be done with a few different methods. This guide will walk through the two most common ways: using the DROP TABLE command or the TRUNCATE TABLE command. We’ll discuss the differences between the two commands, the syntax of each, and best practices.
DROP TABLE
DROP TABLE is an Oracle command used to delete an entire table from the database. This command will delete the table’s rows, columns and constraints. When using this command, any data stored in the table will be lost – it cannot be undone.
The syntax for this command is as follows:
DROP TABLE
;
TRUNCATE TABLE
The TRUNCATE TABLE command can also be used to delete a table and its data in Oracle. Similar to DROP TABLE, any constraints and indexes associated with the table will also be deleted. But unlike DROP TABLE, TRUNCATE TABLE cannot be rolled back.
The syntax to use the TRUNCATE TABLE command is as follows:
TRUNCATE TABLE
;
Differences
The fundamental difference between the two commands is that DROP TABLE deletes the table itself, while TRUNCATE TABLE deletes the contents of the table. Using DROP TABLE will also delete any triggers or dependent objects associated with the table. However, using TRUNCATE TABLE does not delete the dependent objects, making it a faster approach for table deletion.
Best Practices
The best practice for deleting tables in Oracle is to always use the DROP TABLE command. This avoids any possibility of data re-appearing in the table and protects against any unintended changes. If you do need to delete the contents of a table, then the TRUNCATE TABLE command may be the better choice.
Conclusion
Deleting a table in Oracle can be done with the DROP TABLE or TRUNCATE TABLE command. The two commands have different effects – DROP TABLE deletes the table itself, while TRUNCATE TABLE deletes the contents. Using DROP TABLE is the best practice to ensure a complete and safe deletion.
