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Version: 1.0.16

DROP TABLE

DROP TABLE — Remove a table

Synopsis

DROP TABLE [ IF EXISTS ] name [, ...] [ CASCADE | RESTRICT ]

Description

DROP TABLE removes tables from the database. Only the table owner, the schema owner, and a superuser can drop a table. To empty a table of rows without destroying the table, use DELETE or TRUNCATE.

DROP TABLE always removes any indexes, rules, triggers, and constraints on the target table. However, to drop a table that is referenced by a view or a foreign key constraint of another table, CASCADE must be specified. (CASCADE will completely remove the dependent views as well, but for foreign keys it will only remove the foreign key constraint, not the other table entirely.)

Parameters

IF EXISTS

Do not throw an error if the table does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.

name

The name of the table to drop (optionally schema-qualified).

CASCADE

Automatically drop objects that depend on the table (such as views), and in turn all objects that depend on those objects.

RESTRICT

Refuse to drop the table if any objects depend on it. This is the default.

Examples

# To destroy two tables, films and distributors:

DROP TABLE films, distributors;

See Also

ALTER TABLE, CREATE TABLE