markdown/reference/sql/TRUNCATE.html.md.erb

---
title: TRUNCATE
---

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Empties a table of all rows.

## <a id="topic1__section2"></a>Synopsis

``` pre
TRUNCATE [TABLE] <name> [, ...] [CASCADE | RESTRICT]
```

## <a id="topic1__section3"></a>Description

`TRUNCATE` quickly removes all rows from a table or set of tables.This is most useful on large tables.

## <a id="topic1__section4"></a>Parameters

<dt> \<name\>   </dt>
<dd>Required. The name (optionally schema-qualified) of a table to be truncated.</dd>

<dt>CASCADE  </dt>
<dd>Since this key word applies to foreign key references (which are not supported in HAWQ) it has no effect.</dd>

<dt>RESTRICT  </dt>
<dd>Since this key word applies to foreign key references (which are not supported in HAWQ) it has no effect.</dd>

## <a id="topic1__section5"></a>Notes

Only the owner of a table may `TRUNCATE` it. `TRUNCATE` will not perform the following:

-   Run any user-defined `ON DELETE` triggers that might exist for the tables.

    **Note:** HAWQ does not support user-defined triggers.

-   Truncate any tables that inherit from the named table. Only the named table is truncated, not its child tables.

## <a id="topic1__section6"></a>Examples

Empty the table `films`:

``` sql
TRUNCATE films;
```

## <a id="topic1__section7"></a>Compatibility

There is no `TRUNCATE` command in the SQL standard.

## <a id="topic1__section8"></a>See Also

[DROP TABLE](DROP-TABLE.html)