DROP TABLE DROP TABLE is used to delete a table. Syntax

DROP [TEMPORARY] TABLE [IF EXISTS] [db_name.]table_name [FORCE]

Note: • After a table is dropped, you can use theRECOVERstatement to restore the table within a specified period (1 day by default). • If DROP Table FORCE is executed, the table will be deleted directly and cannot be recovered without checking whether there are unfinished activities in the database. Generally, this operation is not recommended. • Once dropped, temporary tables cannot be restored using RECOVER. @Rocky I've ran DROP TABLE a;, now I want all the data gone too, how can I achieve it

If you have already executed

DROP TABLE a;

and want the data to be physically deleted immediately (instead of waiting for the default 1-day retention period), you have two main options: 1. The "Recover and Force Drop" Method (Recommended) This is the simplest way to bypass the recycle bin for a table that was already dropped without the

FORCE

keyword: 1. Restore the table:

sql
    RECOVER TABLE a;

2. Drop it again with FORCE:

sql
    DROP TABLE a FORCE;

Using the

FORCE

keyword tells StarRocks to skip the recycle bin and trigger immediate deletion of the metadata and data. 2. Adjust the Recycle Bin Retention If you cannot recover the table (e.g., because a new table with the same name was created), the data will remain in the "Trash" until it expires. You can shorten this window by modifying the FE configuration: * FE Parameter:

catalog_trash_expire_second

(Default:

86400

or 1 day). * BE Parameter:

trash_file_expire_time_sec

(Default:

86400

or 1 day). If you change

catalog_trash_expire_second

to a very small value (like

60

), the background cleanup process will eventually remove the metadata from the recycle bin, which then signals the BEs to move the data to their own

trash

directories for final deletion. Summary of what happens after `DROP TABLE`: * Without

FORCE

: The table metadata moves to the FE Recycle Bin. Data is kept on the BEs. You can see these items by querying

information_schema.recyclebin_catalogs

. * With

FORCE

: Metadata is deleted immediately. BEs are notified to delete the physical data files. Note: Even with

FORCE

, physical disk space release on the OS level might take a few moments as the Backend (BE) processes the file deletions in the background. References • faq/operation_maintenance_faq.md • administration/Data_recovery.md • faq/shared_data_faq.md • faq/Others.md • knowledge/admin_and_operation/shared_data_garbage_cleanup.md • sql-reference/information_schema/recyclebin_catalogs.md • using_starrocks/caching/block_cache.md