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DELETE Rule (delete_rule)Locate this document in the navigation structure

Use

The DELETE rule ( delete_rule) defines the effects that deleting a row in the referenced table ( referenced_table) has on the referencing table.

Structure

<delete_rule>::=
  ON DELETE CASCADE
| ON DELETE RESTRICT
| ON DELETE DEFAULT
| ON DELETE SET NULL
         

Explanation

  • No DELETE rule: Deleting a row in the referenced table will fail if matching rows exist.

  • ON DELETE CASCADE: If a row in the referenced table is deleted, all of the matching rows are deleted.

  • ON DELETE RESTRICT: Deleting a row in the referenced table fails if matching rows exist.

  • ON DELETE SET DEFAULT: If a row in the referenced table is deleted, the associated DEFAULT value is assigned to each matching row of each referencing column. A DEFAULT specification must exist for each referencing column.

  • ON DELETE SET NULL: If a row in the referenced table is deleted, a NULL value is assigned to each referencing_column of each matching row. None of these referencing columns may be a NOT NULL column.