Question

I have a MySQL/InnoDB database set up with FK constraints. If I delete a row in a ‘root’ table, the dependent tables will have corresponding rows deleted.

How can I show what has been deleted, or at least which tables have been affected?

Is there any simple way or will I need to write a tool to compare before and after?

Would a replication log show what’s going on?

Answer 1

No, there is no way to show what was deleted
No, it will not show up in replication log

Only thing I can think of, is to query information_schema views to see what tables have FK constraints depending on ‘root’ table.

SELECT DISTINCT
  TABLE_NAME FROM REFERENTIAL_CONSTRAINTS 
WHERE 
  CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA = 'yourDatabase'
  AND REFERENCED_TABLE_NAME = 'rootTable'
  AND DELETE_RULE = 'CASCADE'