Answer
DELETE removes rows with full logging. TRUNCATE removes all rows instantly, resets identities, and is minimally logged.
Quick Answer
DELETE: removes matching rows, logged in WAL (slower for large deletions), fires triggers, can use WHERE, transactional. TRUNCATE: removes all rows very fast (doesn't scan rows), minimal WAL logging, fires truncate triggers, can't use WHERE. Both are transactional in PostgreSQL (unlike MySQL MyISAM). TRUNCATE is the right choice when clearing entire tables for ETL or test data cleanup.
S
SugharaIQ Editorial Team
Verified Answer
This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.
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Source: SugharaIQ