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I’m getting Error Code 1451 when trying to delete a record. Any ideas on how to resolve this?
by arjun mehta - Monday, 1 December 2025, 1:38 AM
 

Error Code 1451 occurs in MySQL when trying to delete a record that's still being referenced by a foreign key in another table. To resolve this:

  1. Check Foreign Key Constraints: Inspect the foreign key relationships using SHOW CREATE TABLE and information_schema.KEY_COLUMN_USAGE.

  2. Delete or Update Dependent Records: Before deleting the parent record, remove or update any dependent records in the child table using commands like DELETE or UPDATE.

  3. Use CASCADE: Modify the foreign key to include ON DELETE CASCADE or ON UPDATE CASCADE, which automatically deletes or updates dependent records when the parent changes.

  4. Remove Orphaned Data: Identify and delete orphaned child records that no longer reference a parent, ensuring referential integrity.

These steps should help you resolve the error.