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Truncating MariaDB/MySQL tables in the Nexcess Cloud

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March 03, 2023

Truncating MariaDB/MySQL tables allows you to easily remove all data from the chosen MySQL database tables without having to manually delete and recreate them. You can truncate MySQL tables from the command line interface or use a database management tool like phpMyAdmin.

Nexcess provides a way to access your website database from the Client Portal and truncate MySQL tables from phpMyAdmin. In this Nexcess Knowledge Base guide focused on MariaDB administration, you will learn what truncating MariaDB/MySQL tables does and how to truncate MySQL database tables in the Nexcess Cloud.

MariaDB/MySQL database table truncation process

Truncate table is a statement used to empty a MariaDB/MySQL table without removing all rows one by one. For example, rather than removing all MariaDB/MySQL database table data or deleting and recreating a table manually, you can empty a MariaDB/MySQL table by truncating it.

For MariaDB/MySQL, the truncate table statement represents a combination of two operations — a DROP TABLE operation followed by a CREATE TABLE operation. Essentially, suppose you have decided to truncate a MySQL database table. In that case, two operations will be performed to make the process of data removal faster and more efficient, especially working with large MariaDB/MySQL tables. TRUNCATE TABLE has been proven to be much faster than DELETE for this reason.

Three main things to know before truncating MariaDB/MySQL tables

As truncate operations delete MySQL database tables entirely — thus removing all row data — you must be extremely careful. There are three main things you need to know before truncating any MySQL tables:

  1. Truncation operations cannot be rolled back as they cause an implicit commit. Therefore, once you have launched the truncation process, you cannot recover any data unless you restore the database table from a backup.
  2. The truncate table statement will fail for an InnoDB table referenced by other MySQL database tables using foreign key constraints. As a result, MariaDB/MySQL will throw an error message letting you know you cannot truncate a table referenced in a foreign key constraint.
  3. Truncation operations also cannot be performed if a current session holds an active table lock. Therefore, ensure that your website is not actively using the MariaDB/MySQL table that you will truncate in real time.

Two main ways to truncate MariaDB/MySQL tables

There are two main ways to truncate MariaDB/MySQL tables:

  1. Using the MariaDB/MySQL command line interface
  2. Using a database administration program like phpMyAdmin.

Truncating MariaDB/MySQL tables from the command line interface

Both truncating options will help you achieve the same result, but you must access your website via SSH to perform operations on its database from an SQL shell.

You can truncate MariaDB/MySQL tables from the command line interface by running the truncate table statement from the mysql command line client used by MariaDB and MySQL database servers. Ensure the database user assigned to your database has sufficient privileges, including DROP, and then connect to your database using the database connection information provided in the main website's configuration file.

Truncating MariaDB/MySQL tables in the Nexcess Cloud using phpMyAdmin

You can truncate MariaDB/MySQL tables from the Nexcess Cloud by using phpMyAdmin. phpMyAdmin is a powerful database management tool that allows you to perform many operations on your website database from a graphical user interface. In addition, you can easily access your website database from the Nexcess Client Portal.

Available on all plans, Nexcess Client Portal is a hosting admin panel offering advanced website administration options, including the web hosting database management interface. Nexcess allows you to add and remove MariaDB/MySQL databases and database users and grant privileges without having to access a separate web hosting control panel for this purpose.

Follow the three steps below to truncate MariaDB/MySQL tables in the Nexcess Cloud using phpMyAdmin:

  1. First, open the Databases management interface.
  2. Then, launch the phpMyAdmin tool.
  3. Next, truncate your MariaDB/MySQL database tables as desired.

Step #1 — open the Databases management interface

You can open the Databases management interface from the main menu in the Site Dashboard of the chosen website on WordPress and WooCommerce plans. For Magento and Drupal, the Databases page is available from the main menu of the selected cloud plan. You will find all MariaDB databases and database users you have created in the list:

You will find all MariaDB databases and database users you have created in the list.


You can add and remove databases and users and change MariaDB user passwords from the Nexcess Client Portal using the options provided on the Databases page. The Quick Add Database & User menu is handy if you need to add a new database and create a database user for it.

Step #2 — launch the phpMyAdmin tool

Click the Launch phpMyAdmin button, and the database management tool will open in a separate window. Ensure you have no browser extensions installed that can potentially block it to avoid any issues:

Click on the Launch phpMyAdmin button, and the database management tool will open in a separate window.


Step #3 — truncate MariaDB/MySQL tables

The phpMyAdmin tool is considered one of the best database management tools and can entirely eliminate the need for using the command line interface to work with your website database. In addition, it allows you to truncate MariaDB/MySQL tables by using the Empty the Table (TRUNCATE) operation it provides.

Choose the MariaDB/MySQL database table to truncate by clicking the corresponding table name in the list on the left side of the page. Then, click on Operations from the main phpMyAdmin menu at the top of the window:

Choose the MariaDB/MySQL database table to truncate by clicking on its name in the list on the left side of the page. Click on Operations from the main phpMyAdmin menu at the top of the window.


Then, on the bottom of the page, choose Empty the Table (TRUNCATE). Next, confirm that you would like to perform the operation by clicking the OK button:

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and choose Empty the tTable (TRUNCATE). Confirm that you would like to perform the operation by clicking on the OK button.


You should see the message saying that MySQL returned an empty result. This message means that the table has been successfully truncated, and you will see that it no longer has any data if you open it from phpMyAdmin again:

You should see the message saying that MySQL returned an empty result. This means that the table has been successfully truncated, and you will see that it no longer has any data if you open it from phpMyAdmin again.


Conclusion

Truncating MariaDB/MySQL tables allows you to delete all row data fast and easily without performing any operations manually. phpMyAdmin is a great database management tool that will help you add and remove data from MariaDB/MySQL tables without using the command line interface. You can manage your MariaDB/MySQL databases and users from the Databases interface of the Nexcess Client Portal and access phpMyAdmin to work with your website database from a graphic user interface.

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Note about the original publication date

This article was originally published in September 2019. It has since been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Kiki Sheldon
Kiki Sheldon


Kiki works as a Security Specialist for Liquid Web. Before joining the Abuse & Security Operations Department, she worked on the Liquid Web Managed Hosting Support Team, where she gained extensive knowledge of Linux System Administration and popular Content Management Systems (CMSs).

Kiki’s passion for writing allows her to share her professional expertise and help others. She keeps up with technology and always looks to improve her technical skills. In her free time, she enjoys reading, especially classic books and detective stories.

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