markdown/reference/sql/DROP-TABLE.html.md.erb

---
title: DROP TABLE
---

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Removes a table.

## <a id="topic1__section2"></a>Synopsis

``` pre
DROP TABLE [IF EXISTS] <name> [, ...] [CASCADE | RESTRICT]
```

## <a id="topic1__section3"></a>Description

`DROP TABLE` removes tables from the database. Only its owner may drop a table. To empty a table of rows without removing the table definition, use `TRUNCATE`.

`DROP TABLE` always removes any indexes, rules, and constraints that exist for the target table. However, to drop a table that is referenced by a view, `CASCADE` must be specified. `CASCADE` will remove a dependent view entirely.

## <a id="topic1__section4"></a>Parameters

<dt>IF EXISTS  </dt>
<dd>Do not throw an error if the table does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.</dd>

<dt>\<name\>   </dt>
<dd>The name (optionally schema-qualified) of the table to remove.</dd>

<dt>CASCADE  </dt>
<dd>Automatically drop objects that depend on the table (such as views).</dd>

<dt>RESTRICT  </dt>
<dd>Refuse to drop the table if any objects depend on it. This is the default.</dd>

## <a id="topic1__section5"></a>Examples

Remove the table `mytable`:

``` pre
DROP TABLE mytable;
```

## <a id="topic1__section6"></a>Compatibility

`DROP TABLE` is fully conforming with the SQL standard, except that the standard only allows one table to be dropped per command. Also, the `IF           EXISTS` option is a HAWQ extension.

## <a id="topic1__section7"></a>See Also

[CREATE TABLE](CREATE-TABLE.html), [ALTER TABLE](ALTER-TABLE.html), [TRUNCATE](TRUNCATE.html)