DROP TABLE (Databricks SQL)

Deletes the table and removes the directory associated with the table from the file system if the table is not EXTERNAL table. An exception is thrown if the table does not exist.

In case of an external table, only the associated metadata information is removed from the metastore database.

If the table is cached, the command uncaches the table and all its dependents.

Syntax 

DROP TABLE [ IF EXISTS ] table_name

Parameter

  • IF EXISTS

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

  • table_name

    The name of the table to be created. The name must not include a temporal specification.

Examples 

-- Assumes a table named `employeetable` exists.
> DROP TABLE employeetable;

-- Assumes a table named `employeetable` exists in the `userdb` database
> DROP TABLE userdb.employeetable;

-- Assumes a table named `employeetable` does not exist.
-- Throws exception
> DROP TABLE employeetable;
  Error: Table or view not found: employeetable;

-- Assumes a table named `employeetable` does not exist,Try with IF EXISTS
-- this time it will not throw exception
> DROP TABLE IF EXISTS employeetable;