how to delete account

Question

Hi, 
 I want to create a functionality that allows users to delete their community accounts, and I'm not sure how to do it. 
 Should I logout the user before I delete them, will they automatically be logged out as they are deleted? 
 Can I use a REST service like the function below, or should I use a built-in delete stored procedure from the database? 
 $.telligent.evolution.del({
 url: $.telligent.evolution.site.getBaseUrl() + 'api.ashx/v2/users/{id}.json',
 data: { 
 'id': userId
 },
 success: function(response) {
 
 }
 }); 
 Any feedback is appreciated. 
 
 Regards, 
 Silviu

Michael Monteleone · Answer

HI Silviu . Yes, you can use that API, whether via REST, Widget, or in-process. 
 It is very important that you not call the stored procedures for user deletion or any other reason. This is unsupported and can result in inconsistent data.

Luke R Davidson · Answer

I believe what Michael is saying, calling a SP directly bypasses other logic built into plugins and/or the platform that fire on the OnUserDelete/OnBeforeUserDelete type of events. So you should use the APIs to do this to ensure everything stays in sync. 
 And My best guess is if you delete your own account, you would be logged out as the account would no longer exist.

Michael Monteleone · Answer

Right. If you're connecting directly to the database and calling stored procedures or executing other calls, you can expect to see subsequent broken functionality and errors due to other state that is modified by the platform and kept in sync across servers other than just calls to stored procedures. 
 The correct way to do this is to only use the API, not DB. 
 As for logging out, you could simply redirect the browser to the logout page after your REST request completes (in the success handler).