DELETE into an OUTPUT table

Did you know that it is possible to OUTPUT a table from a DELETE statement? This OUTPUT table would contain all the rows that you deleted, and you can then use that table in other processes.

Sample code below.

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DECLARE @items TABLE (itemnmbr varchar(20), quantity INT, cost NUMERIC(10,2))
INSERT INTO @items (itemnmbr, quantity, cost) values ('hammer',5,10.23)
INSERT INTO @items (itemnmbr, quantity, cost) values ('wrench',4,10.23)
INSERT INTO @items (itemnmbr, quantity, cost) values ('pliers',3,10.23)
INSERT INTO @items (itemnmbr, quantity, cost) values ('hack saw',2,10.23)
INSERT INTO @items (itemnmbr, quantity, cost) values ('level',1,10.23)
 
DECLARE @del TABLE (itemnmbr VARCHAR(20))
 
DELETE from @items
    OUTPUT deleted.itemnmbr INTO @del
    WHERE itemnmbr = 'wrench'
 
SELECT * FROM @items
 
SELECT * FROM @del

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