{"id":498,"date":"2016-04-07T08:30:41","date_gmt":"2016-04-07T08:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sqltutorial.org\/?page_id=498"},"modified":"2025-02-08T00:59:03","modified_gmt":"2025-02-08T07:59:03","slug":"sql-drop-table","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/sql-drop-table\/","title":{"rendered":"SQL DROP TABLE Statement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Summary<\/strong>: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the SQL DROP TABLE<\/code> statement to remove a table from the database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction to SQL DROP TABLE statement #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the database evolves, you will need to delete obsolete tables from the database. To delete a table, you use the DROP TABLE<\/code> statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s the syntax for the DROP TABLE<\/code> statement:<\/p>\n\n\n

DROP<\/span> TABLE<\/span> table_name;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> (<\/span>sql<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n
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\"SQL<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
In this syntax, you specify the name of the table you want to drop after the DROP TABLE<\/code> keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The DROP TABLE<\/code> statement removes both the data and structure of a table permanently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the table does not exist, the database system will issue an error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To conditionally drop a table only if it exists, you can use the IF EXISTS<\/code> option:<\/p>\n\n\n
DROP<\/span> TABLE<\/span> IF<\/span> EXISTS<\/span> table_name;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> (<\/span>sql<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
In this case, the database system may issue a warning or notice if the table does not exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SQL DROP TABLE statement example #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
First, create a new table<\/a> called emergency_contacts<\/code> to store the emergency contacts of employees:<\/p>\n\n\n
CREATE<\/span> TABLE<\/span> emergency_contacts (\n  id<\/span> INT<\/span> PRIMARY KEY<\/span>,\n  first_name VARCHAR<\/span>(255<\/span>) NOT<\/span> NULL<\/span>,\n  last_name VARCHAR<\/span>(255<\/span>) NOT<\/span> NULL<\/span>,\n  relationship VARCHAR<\/span>(50<\/span>) NOT<\/span> NULL<\/span>,\n  employee_id INT<\/span> NOT<\/span> NULL<\/span>\n);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> (<\/span>sql<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Second, use the DROP TABLE<\/code> statement to drop the emergency_contacts<\/code> table:<\/p>\n\n\n
DROP<\/span> TABLE<\/span> emergency_contacts;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> (<\/span>sql<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Summary #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Note that to delete only data from a table, you use the DELETE<\/a><\/code> or TRUNCATE TABLE<\/a><\/code> statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n