Question

    Which of the following database operations is used to

    remove all records from a table but not the table itself?
    A DELETE Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    B DROP Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    C TRUNCATE Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    D REMOVE Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    E ALTER Correct Answer Incorrect Answer

    Solution

    The TRUNCATE operation in SQL is used to remove all rows from a table without affecting the table structure. Unlike the DELETE operation, which removes rows one at a time and can be rolled back if used with a transaction, TRUNCATE is a more efficient way to delete all records in a table because it does not generate individual row delete statements. TRUNCATE resets any identity columns and typically cannot be rolled back in most database management systems unless within a transaction. Option 1 (DELETE) removes rows from a table but allows for specific conditions (such as WHERE clauses) to filter which rows to delete. Unlike TRUNCATE, DELETE can be rolled back if wrapped in a transaction. Option 2 (DROP) removes the entire table from the database, including its structure, and is more drastic than TRUNCATE. Option 4 (REMOVE) is not a valid SQL operation. Option 5 (ALTER) is used to modify the structure of a table, such as adding or deleting columns, but it does not remove data from the table.

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