---
name: "drop_table"
section: "7"
platform: "linux"
package: "postgresql"
version: "7.4.7-6sarge6"
release: "Debian 3.1 (Sarge)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/drop_table"
---

# drop\_table(7)

remove a table

## NAME

DROP TABLE - remove a table

## SYNOPSIS

```
DROP TABLE name [, ...] [ CASCADE | RESTRICT ]

```

## DESCRIPTION

**DROP TABLE** removes tables from the database. Only its owner may destroy a table. To empty a table of rows, without destroying the table, use **DELETE**.

**DROP TABLE** always removes any indexes, rules, triggers, and constraints that exist for the target table. However, to drop a table that is referenced by a foreign-key constraint of another table, CASCADE must be specified. (CASCADE will remove the foreign-key constraint, not the other table entirely.)

## PARAMETERS

- *name*

  The name (optionally schema-qualified) of the table to drop.

- **CASCADE**

  Automatically drop objects that depend on the table (such as views).

- **RESTRICT**

  Refuse to drop the table if any objects depend on it. This is the default.

## EXAMPLES

To destroy two tables, films and  distributors:

```
DROP TABLE films, distributors;

```

## COMPATIBILITY

This command conforms to the SQL standard.

## SEE ALSO

ALTER TABLE \[[**alter\_table**(7)](/alter_table/7.md)\], CREATE TABLE \[**create\_table**(l)\]