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CREATE DATABASE

Name

CREATE DATABASE — Creates a new database
CREATE DATABASE name [ WITH LOCATION = 'dbpath' ]
  

Inputs

name

The name of a database to create.

dbpath

An alternate location can be specified as either an environment variable known to the backend server (e.g. 'PGDATA2') or as an absolute path name (e.g. '/usr/local/pgsql/data'). In either case, the location must be pre-configured by initlocation.

Outputs

CREATEDB

Message returned if the command completes successfully.

WARN: createdb: database "name" already exists.

This occurs if database specified already exists.

ERROR: Unable to create database directory directory

There was a problem with creating the required directory; this operation will need permissions for the postgres user on the specified location.

Description

CREATE DATABASE creates a new Postgres database. The creator becomes the administrator of the new database.

Notes

CREATE DATABASE is a Postgres language extension.

Use DROP DATABASE to remove a database.

Usage

To create a new database:

olly=> create database lusiadas;
   

To create a new database in an alternate area ~/private_db:

$ mkdir private_db
$ initlocation ~/private_db
Creating Postgres database system directory /home/olly/private_db/base
   
   $ psql olly
   Welcome to the POSTGRESQL interactive sql monitor:
    Please read the file COPYRIGHT for copyright terms of POSTGRESQL
    
    type \? for help on slash commands
    type \q to quit
    type \g or terminate with semicolon to execute query
    You are currently connected to the database: template1
    
    olly=> create database elsewhere with location = '/home/olly/private_db';
   CREATEDB
   

Bugs

There are security and data integrity issues involved with using alternate database locations specified with absolute path names, and by default only an environment variable known to the backend may be specified for an alternate location. See the Administrator's Guide for more information.

Compatibility

SQL92

There is no CREATE DATABASE statement in SQL92.

The equivalent command in standard SQL is CREATE SCHEMA.