markdown/reference/cli/client_utilities/dropdb.html.md.erb

---
title: dropdb
---

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Removes a database.

## <a id="topic1__section2"></a>Synopsis

``` pre
dropdb [<connection_options>] [-e | --echo] [-i | --interactive] <dbname>

dropdb --help 

dropdb --version
```
where:

``` pre
<connection_options> =
	[-h <host> | --host <host>] 
	[-p <port> | -- port <port>] 
	[-U <username> | --username <username>] 
    [-W | --password] 
```

## <a id="topic1__section3"></a>Description

`dropdb` destroys an existing database. The user who executes this command must be a superuser or the owner of the database being dropped.

`dropdb` is a wrapper around the SQL command `DROP                                         DATABASE`.

## <a id="args"></a>Arguments

<dt>**\<dbname\>** </dt>
<dd>The name of the database to be removed.</dd>

## <a id="topic1__section4"></a>Options

<dt>-e, -\\\-echo  </dt>
<dd>Echo the commands that `dropdb` generates and sends to the server.</dd>

<dt>-i, -\\\-interactive  </dt>
<dd>Issues a verification prompt before doing anything destructive.</dd>

**\<connection_options\>**

<dt>-h, -\\\-host \<host\> </dt>
<dd>The host name of the machine on which the HAWQ master database server is running. If not specified, reads from the environment variable `PGHOST` or defaults to localhost.</dd>

<dt>-p, -\\\-port \<port\>  </dt>
<dd>The TCP port on which the HAWQ master database server is listening for connections. If not specified, reads from the environment variable `PGPORT` or defaults to 5432.</dd>

<dt>-U, -\\\-username \<username\>  </dt>
<dd>The database role name to connect as. If not specified, reads from the environment variable `PGUSER` or defaults to the current system role name.</dd>

<dt>-w, -\\\-no-password  </dt>
<dd>Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a `.pgpass` file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.</dd>

<dt>-W, -\\\-password  </dt>
<dd>Force a password prompt.</dd>

**Other Options**

<dt>-\\\-help  </dt>
<dd>Displays the online help.</dd>

<dt>-\\\-version  </dt>
<dd>Displays the version of this utility.</dd>

## <a id="topic1__section6"></a>Examples

To destroy the database named `demo` using default connection parameters:

``` shell
$ dropdb demo
```

To destroy the database named `demo` using connection options, with verification, and a peek at the underlying command:

``` shell
$ dropdb -p 54321 -h masterhost -i -e demo
Database "demo" will be permanently deleted.
Are you sure? (y/n) y
DROP DATABASE "demo"
DROP DATABASE
```