What to do when I want to use database constraints but only mark as deleted instead of deleting?

Question

I am working in a project where database items are not deleted, but only marked as deleted. Something like this:

id   name     deleted
---  -------  --------         


        

Answer 1

It might be worth considering using a "recycle bin" table. Instead of keeping the old records in the same table with a flag, move them to its own table with its own constraints. For instance, in the active table you do have a UNIQUE constraint on name, but in the recycle bin table you don't.