How to delete all data from table in MySQL or MariaDB

Databases are essential components of modern software applications, allowing for efficient storage and management of vast amounts of structured data. MySQL and MariaDB are two popular open-source relational database management systems, with MariaDB being a community-developed fork of MySQL. Both of these systems utilize the SQL language for managing and interacting with the data stored within their tables.

Deleting all data from a table is a common operation that may be required for various reasons, such as cleaning up test data or preparing the table for new information. This guide will walk you through the process of deleting all data from a table in MySQL or MariaDB. Although the procedure is quite simple, it is important to exercise caution, as this operation will remove all data from the specified table permanently, with no option for recovery.

To delete all data from a table, you will need to have access to the MySQL or MariaDB command-line interface or a graphical client such as phpMyAdmin, HeidiSQL, or MySQL Workbench. With your preferred tool, follow the step-by-step instructions outlined below to remove all data from the desired table in your database.

1. Connect to the MySQL or MariaDB server using your preferred MySQL or MariaDB client and establish a connection to the server using your database credentials (username, password, and optionally the host and port).
2. Select the appropriate database fter connecting to the server, choose the database containing the table from which you want to delete all data.

   USE your_database_name;

3. Confirm the table structure and contents before proceeding with the deletion, ensuring that you are targeting the correct table by examining its structure and contents.

   SHOW TABLES;
   DESCRIBE your_table_name;
   SELECT * FROM your_table_name;

4. Delete all data from the table after confirming that you have selected the right table.

   TRUNCATE TABLE your_table_name;

   Alternatively, you can use the DELETE statement, but TRUNCATE is more efficient for deleting all data from a table.

   DELETE FROM your_table_name;

5. Verify the deletion to ensure that the data has been removed successfully, query the table again and check that it returns an empty result set..

   SELECT * FROM your_table_name;

6. Save and close the connection if you are satisfied with the results, save any changes if required (depending on the client you are using), and close the connection to the MySQL or MariaDB server.

   EXIT: