Why is truncate a DDL statement?
I'd add here some explanation: By default, when truncating a table , you are not just removing rows, you are implicitly telling Oracle Database to also perform the following tasks:
Deallocates all space used by the removed rows except that specified by the MINEXTENTS storage parameter
Sets the NEXT storage parameter to the size of the last extent removed from the segment by the truncation process
So, it changes the storage definitions and changing the structure of the table by resetting the water high mark.
Also it can't be a DML ,right? Where clause can't be specified or comes along with DDL statement. If truncate is a DML statement then Oracle would have allowed us to use truncate along with where clause.
Note: A WHERE clause in SQL specifies that a SQL Data Manipulation Language (DML) statement should only affect rows that meet specified criteria.
A simple practical explaination can be :
Truncate reinitializes the identity by making changes in data definition therefore it is DDL, whereas Delete only delete the records from the table and doesn't make any changes in its Definition that's why it is DML.
Like Create a Table Names and Insert Some Initial records.
Delete all records(Without where Clause) and Insert records again.Identity is not reinitialized.
Now Truncate Table and Reinsert the records.