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

---
layout: global
title: DROP VIEW
displayTitle: DROP VIEW 
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  this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.
  The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0
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---

### Description

`DROP VIEW` removes the metadata associated with a specified view from the catalog.

### Syntax

```sql
DROP VIEW [ IF EXISTS ] view_identifier
```

### Parameter

* **IF EXISTS**

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

* **view_identifier**

    Specifies the view name to be dropped. The name may be optionally qualified with a database
    name (or a catalog and database). A name qualified with `session` or `system.session`
    targets a temporary view.

    **Syntax:** `[ catalog_name. ] [ database_name. ] view_name`

### Examples

```sql
-- Assumes a view named `employeeView` exists.
DROP VIEW employeeView;

-- Assumes a view named `employeeView` exists in the `userdb` database
DROP VIEW userdb.employeeView;

-- Assumes a view named `employeeView` does not exist.
-- Throws exception
DROP VIEW employeeView;
Error: TABLE_OR_VIEW_NOT_FOUND

-- Assumes a view named `employeeView` does not exist,Try with IF EXISTS
-- this time it will not throw exception
DROP VIEW IF EXISTS employeeView;

-- A temporary view that shadows a persistent view with the same name.
-- An unqualified DROP VIEW drops the temporary view first; qualifying with `session`
-- always targets the temporary view explicitly.
CREATE VIEW default.recent_orders AS SELECT * FROM orders WHERE order_date > current_date - 7;
CREATE TEMPORARY VIEW recent_orders AS SELECT * FROM orders WHERE order_date = current_date;

DROP VIEW session.recent_orders;             -- drops the temporary view
DROP VIEW default.recent_orders;             -- drops the persistent view
```

### Related Statements

* [CREATE VIEW](sql-ref-syntax-ddl-create-view.html)
* [ALTER VIEW](sql-ref-syntax-ddl-alter-view.html)
* [SHOW VIEWS](sql-ref-syntax-aux-show-views.html)
* [CREATE DATABASE](sql-ref-syntax-ddl-create-database.html)
* [DROP DATABASE](sql-ref-syntax-ddl-drop-database.html)