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Name
DROP TABLE -- Removes existing tables
from a database
Synopsis
DROP TABLE name [, ...]
Inputs
- name
-
The name of an existing table to drop.
Outputs
- DROP
-
The message returned if the command completes
successfully.
- ERROR: table "name" does not exist
-
If the specified table does not exist in the
database.
Description
DROP TABLE removes tables from the
database. Only its owner may destroy a table. A table may be
emptied of rows, but not destroyed, by using DELETE.
If a table being destroyed has secondary indexes on it, they
will be removed first. The removal of just a secondary index will
not affect the contents of the underlying table.
Notes
Refer to CREATE TABLE and ALTER TABLE for information on how to create or
modify tables.
Usage
To destroy two tables, films and
distributors:
DROP TABLE films, distributors;
Compatibility
SQL92
SQL92 specifies some additional capabilities for DROP
TABLE:
DROP TABLE table { RESTRICT | CASCADE }
- RESTRICT
-
Ensures that only a table with no dependent views or
integrity constraints can be destroyed.
- CASCADE
-
Any referencing views or integrity constraints will
also be dropped.
Tip: At present, to remove a referenced view you
must drop it explicitly.