# DROP DATABASE

## Syntax <a href="#synopsis" id="synopsis"></a>

```sql
DROP DATABASE database_name;
```

## Description <a href="#description" id="description"></a>

Drops an existing [database](https://docs.deltastream.io/overview/core-concepts/databases). Only the database owner can execute this.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note** You cannot drop a database if it contains any non-empty schemas.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Important** `DROP DATABASE` cannot be undone. Use it with care!
{% endhint %}

If your current database is dropped, you must set a new database for the ongoing sessions. See [USE](https://docs.deltastream.io/reference/sql-syntax/command/use).

### Arguments

#### database\_name

The name of the database to drop. If the name is case sensitive you must wrap it in double quotes; otherwise the system uses the lower case name.

## Examples <a href="#example" id="example"></a>

#### Drop a database

The following shows how to drop the database named `DemoDB`:

```sh
db.public/<no-store># LIST DATABASES;
+------------+-------------+------------+-------------------------------+
|  Name      |  Is Default |  Owner     |  Created At                   |
+============+=============+============+===============================+
| mydb       | true        | sysadmin   | 2023-08-09 17:14:46 +0000 UTC |
+------------+-------------+------------+-------------------------------+
| DemoDB     | false       | sysadmin   | 2024-07-02 16:24:11 +0000 UTC |
+------------+-------------+------------+-------------------------------+
db.public/<no-store># DROP DATABASE "DemoDB";
db.public/<no-store># LIST DATABASES;
+------------+-------------+------------+-------------------------------+
|  Name      |  Is Default |  Owner     |  Created At                   |
+============+=============+============+===============================+
| mydb       | true        | sysadmin   | 2023-08-09 17:14:46 +0000 UTC |
+------------+-------------+------------+-------------------------------+
```