method

delete_all

v4.2.1 - Show latest stable - 1 note - Class: ActiveRecord::Relation

delete_all(conditions = nil) public

Deletes the records matching conditions without instantiating the records first, and hence not calling the destroy method nor invoking callbacks. This is a single SQL DELETE statement that goes straight to the database, much more efficient than destroy_all. Be careful with relations though, in particular :dependent rules defined on associations are not honored. Returns the number of rows affected.

Post.delete_all("person_id = 5 AND (category = 'Something' OR category = 'Else')")
Post.delete_all(["person_id = ? AND (category = ? OR category = ?)", 5, 'Something', 'Else'])
Post.where(person_id: 5).where(category: ['Something', 'Else']).delete_all

Both calls delete the affected posts all at once with a single DELETE statement. If you need to destroy dependent associations or call your before_* or after_destroy callbacks, use the destroy_all method instead.

If an invalid method is supplied, delete_all raises an ActiveRecord error:

Post.limit(100).delete_all
# => ActiveRecord::ActiveRecordError: delete_all doesn't support limit

Show source

# File activerecord/lib/active_record/relation.rb, line 452
    def delete_all(conditions = nil)
      invalid_methods = INVALID_METHODS_FOR_DELETE_ALL.select { |method|
        if MULTI_VALUE_METHODS.include?(method)
          send("#{method}_values").any?
        else
          send("#{method}_value")
        end
      }
      if invalid_methods.any?
        raise ActiveRecordError.new("delete_all doesn't support #{invalid_methods.join(', ')}")
      end

      if conditions
        where(conditions).delete_all
      else
        stmt = Arel::DeleteManager.new(arel.engine)
        stmt.from(table)

        if joins_values.any?
          @klass.connection.join_to_delete(stmt, arel, table[primary_key])
        else
          stmt.wheres = arel.constraints
        end

        affected = @klass.connection.delete(stmt, 'SQL', bind_values)

        reset
        affected
      end
    end

February 23, 2011 - (>= v3.0.0)

1 thank

Works with scoped too

It’s also available to use after scope chain too, like in any other AR action, for example:

User.where('age > 69').delete_all

delete_all

Related methods

Works with scoped too