docs/sql-ref-syntax-ddl-create-table-like.md

---
layout: global
title: CREATE TABLE LIKE
displayTitle: CREATE TABLE LIKE
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---

### Description

The `CREATE TABLE` statement defines a new table using the definition/metadata of an existing table or view.

### Syntax

```sql
CREATE TABLE [IF NOT EXISTS] table_identifier LIKE source_table_identifier
    USING data_source
    [ ROW FORMAT row_format ]
    [ STORED AS file_format ]
    [ TBLPROPERTIES ( key1=val1, key2=val2, ... ) ]
    [ LOCATION path ]
```

### Parameters

* **table_identifier**

    Specifies a table name, which may be optionally qualified with a database name.

    **Syntax:** `[ database_name. ] table_name`

* **USING data_source**

    Data Source is the input format used to create the table. Data source can be CSV, TXT, ORC, JDBC, PARQUET, etc.

* **ROW FORMAT**

    SERDE is used to specify a custom SerDe or the DELIMITED clause in order to use the native SerDe.

* **STORED AS**

    File format for table storage, could be TEXTFILE, ORC, PARQUET, etc.

* **TBLPROPERTIES**

    Table properties that have to be set are specified, such as `created.by.user`, `owner`, etc.

* **LOCATION**

    Path to the directory where table data is stored, which could be a path on distributed storage like HDFS, etc. Location to create an external table.

### Examples

```sql
-- Create table using an existing table
CREATE TABLE Student_Dupli like Student;

-- Create table like using a data source
CREATE TABLE Student_Dupli like Student USING CSV;

-- Table is created as external table at the location specified
CREATE TABLE Student_Dupli like Student location  '/root1/home';

-- Create table like using a rowformat
CREATE TABLE Student_Dupli like Student
    ROW FORMAT DELIMITED FIELDS TERMINATED BY ','
    STORED AS TEXTFILE
    TBLPROPERTIES ('owner'='xxxx');
```

### Related Statements

* [CREATE TABLE USING DATASOURCE](sql-ref-syntax-ddl-create-table-datasource.html)
* [CREATE TABLE USING HIVE FORMAT](sql-ref-syntax-ddl-create-table-hiveformat.html)