DROP TABLE
SQL - Language Statements
DROP TABLE
Removes existing tables from a database
1999-07-20
DROP TABLE name [, ...]
1998-09-22
Inputs
name
The name of an existing table to drop.
1998-09-22
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.
1998-09-22
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.
1998-09-22
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
1998-09-22
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.
At present, to remove a referenced view you must drop
it explicitly.