What does it mean to "truncate" a table in SQL?

Truncating a table in SQL specifically refers to the operation that removes all records from the table without logging each individual row deletion. This means that when a table is truncated, the database engine efficiently deletes all data in the table in one operation, which is faster and uses fewer system resources compared to deleting rows one by one.

This method of data removal does not generate individual transaction log entries for each deleted row, making it primarily a non-recoverable operation in terms of the deleted data (unless a full database backup is available). A truncated table can still retain its structure, allowing you to insert new records into it right after the truncation.

This contrasts with other methods of data manipulation in SQL, which may log each deletion separately or involve different handling of table structures or data backups.