In Eloquent, records are deleted using delete(), truncate(), or soft deletes. To delete a single record, call delete() on the model instance or chain it from a query. For multiple records, build a query with where() and call delete(). Use truncate() to quickly remove all records without triggering events. Enable soft deletes by adding the SoftDeletes trait and use restore() or forceDelete() as needed. Always verify queries before execution to avoid unintended deletions.
You delete records in Eloquent by using methods like delete(), truncate(), or soft deletes, depending on your needs.
Deleting a single record
If you already have the model instance, just call delete() on it. For example:
$user = User::find(1); $user->delete();
This removes the record from the database completely. If you don’t have the instance yet, you can chain it directly from the query:
User::where('id', 1)->delete();One thing to be careful with: if you're deleting based on conditions other than primary key (like email or status), double-check your query so you don't remove more than intended.
Deleting multiple records at once
Sometimes you want to clean up old data or batch-delete entries. You can do this by building a query that matches multiple rows and calling delete():
User::where('created_at', '<', '2020-01-01')->delete();This deletes all users created before 2020. Again, make sure your where clause is correct — one typo and you might delete too much or too little. It’s often safer to test the query first with get() before running delete.
Also worth noting:
- This still triggers model events like
deletingif you have any observers or model boot logic. - If you're dealing with soft deletes, this will work as expected only if the model isn't already marked as deleted.
Using truncate for full table cleanup
If you need to wipe out all records quickly and reset auto-increment counters, use truncate():
User::truncate();
This is faster than deleting each row because it doesn’t run individual delete operations or fire model events. But it's also dangerous — no undo unless you have backups. Only use this when you really want to clear everything.
Soft deleting instead of permanent removal
By default, Eloquent allows you to "soft delete" records if you set up the deleted_at column in your table. To enable this, add the SoftDeletes trait to your model:
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\SoftDeletes;
class User extends Model
{
use SoftDeletes;
}Now when you call delete(), it sets the deleted_at timestamp instead of removing the row. To bring the record back:
$user->restore();
And to find soft-deleted models:
User::withTrashed()->find(1);
Or if you want to permanently delete even after soft deleting:
$user->forceDelete();
Just remember — once you force delete, it's gone for real.
That’s basically how deletion works in Eloquent. Whether you’re doing regular deletes, bulk actions, truncating, or using soft deletes, just make sure you understand what each method does before running it in production.
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