Updated on 2025-07-22 GMT+08:00

DROP DATABASE

Description

Drops a database.

Precautions

  • Only the database owner or a user granted the DROP permission can run the DROP DATABASE command. System administrators have this permission by default.
  • The preinstalled POSTGRES, TEMPLATE0, and TEMPLATE1 databases are protected and therefore cannot be deleted. To check databases in the current service, run the gsql statement \l.
  • If any users are connected to the database, the database cannot be deleted.
  • DROP DATABASE cannot be executed within a transaction block.
  • If DROP DATABASE fails and is rolled back, run DROP DATABASE IF EXISTS again.

DROP DATABASE cannot be undone.

Syntax

DROP DATABASE [ IF EXISTS ] database_name ;

Parameters

  • IF EXISTS

    Reports a notice instead of an error if the specified database does not exist.

  • database_name

    Specifies the name of the database to be deleted.

    Value range: an existing database name

Examples

See Examples in CREATE DATABASE.

Helpful Links

CREATE DATABASE

Suggestions

  • drop database

    Do not delete databases during transactions.