All Ways to DELETE Data from MySQL Database in Laravel

A comprehensive guide on various methods to delete data from a MySQL database in Laravel, including Eloquent, Query Builder, and how to implement soft deletes.

In this article, we will explore different methods for deleting data from a MySQL database in Laravel. You will learn how to use Eloquent and Query Builder to perform delete operations, as well as how to use soft deletes to protect data from permanent deletion.

1. Deleting Data with Eloquent

Eloquent is Laravel's powerful ORM that allows you to interact with your database easily and effectively.

Example Code:

use App\Models\Student;

// Delete a record by ID
$student = Student::find(1);
$student->delete();

2. Deleting Data with Query Builder

Query Builder provides a flexible and expressive syntax for interacting with your database.

Example Code:

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;

// Delete a record using Query Builder
DB::table('students')->where('id', 1)->delete();

3. Soft Delete

Soft deletes allow you to "delete" data without actually removing it from the database. The data will be marked as deleted and can be restored later.

Step 1: Adding Soft Delete to the Model

use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\SoftDeletes;

class Student extends Model
{
    use SoftDeletes;

    protected $dates = ['deleted_at'];
}

Step 2: Deleting Data with Soft Delete

$student = Student::find(1);
$student->delete(); // Data will be marked as deleted

Step 3: Restoring Deleted Data

$student = Student::withTrashed()->find(1);
$student->restore(); // Restore the data

System Requirements:

• PHP 7.3 or higher
• Laravel 8.x or 9.x
• MySQL

How to install Laravel:

composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel project-name

Tips:

• Use soft deletes to prevent loss of important data.
• Double-check before performing delete operations.