docs/sql-ref-syntax-ddl-drop-variable.md

---
layout: global
title: DROP TEMPORARY VARIABLE
displayTitle: DROP TEMPORARY VARIABLE 
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---

### Description

The `DROP TEMPORARY VARIABLE` statement drops a temporary variable. An exception will
be thrown if the variable does not exist. 

### Syntax

```sql
DROP TEMPORARY { VAR | VARIABLE } [ IF EXISTS ] variable_name
```

### Parameters

* **variable_name**

    Specifies the name of an existing variable. The function name may be
    optionally qualified with a `system.session` or `session`.

    **Syntax:** `[ system. [ session.] ] variable_name`

* **IF EXISTS**

    If specified, no exception is thrown when the variable does not exist.

### Examples

```sql
-- Create a temporary variable var1
DECLARE VARIABLE var1 INT;

-- Drop temporary variable
DROP TEMPORARY VARIABLE var1;

-- Try to drop temporary variable which is not present
DROP TEMPORARY VARIABLE var1;
[VARIABLE_NOT_FOUND] The variable `system`.`session`.`var1` cannot be found. Verify the spelling and correctness of the schema and catalog.
If you did not qualify the name with a schema and catalog, verify the current_schema() output, or qualify the name with the correct schema and catalog.
To tolerate the error on drop use DROP VARIABLE IF EXISTS. SQLSTATE: 42883
  
-- Drop temporary variable if it exists
DROP TEMPORARY VARIABLE IF EXISTS var1;
```

### Related Statements

* [DECLARE VARIABLE](sql-ref-syntax-ddl-declare-variable.html)