Should I delete or disable a row in a relational database?

Question

In a brand new program where space isn\'t really that big a deal, is it better to delete a row or to disable a row by let\'s say a boolean \"Disabled\" and have the program

Answer 1

It depends on the function of the database. Is it the source of all truth? If yes, then disable rather than delete, as it is easier to recover from bad operations (ie user error). If the database is feed from some upstream data source, delete then unused data. Any recreation/recovery can be done by the upstream system.