drop db in postgres

Question

I try dropdb mydbname in shell. It do not give any error. But still when I call \l it is still there.

I logged into the postgres server using sudo -u postgres psql.

Other than my main concern I need to know how to go into the database other than just staying outside of it. (as a example if I want to list the tables)

Can you please rephrase the question. I am not able to understand what you are trying to do — Shamis Shukoor
– Shamis Shukoor, Commented Nov 16, 2012 at 15:13
Could you please show your terminal output for dropdb mydbname and psql's \l meta-command? — mys
– mys, Commented Nov 16, 2012 at 15:19
Are you sure you are connecting to the correct Postgres server? — user330315
– user330315, Commented Nov 16, 2012 at 15:30
-1 no version shown, no command-line output copied, low effort question. You've been around long enough I'd expect better. — Craig Ringer
– Craig Ringer, Commented Nov 16, 2012 at 23:53

mys · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-16 15:18:53Z

6

In order to drop database you can use SQL command (but I do not understand why dropdb didn't work) DROP DATABASE mydbname:

sudo -u postgres psql -c "DROP DATABASE mydbname"

It would be good to check if database is not used:

select * from pg_stat_activity where datname = 'mydbname';

The sudo -u postgres psql connects to postgres database. You need to specify database: sudo -u postgres psql mydbname and then you can use metdata commands like \d, \dt, \dv, ...

answered Nov 16, 2012 at 15:18

mys

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2 Comments

user330315 Over a year ago

dropdb should do just the same thing

titanofold Over a year ago

99% of the tasks to administrate a PostgreSQL database does not require su or sudo to the 'postgres' system user.

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:22:41Z

5

When you say "shell" ... do you mean the psql shell, not the unix command line shell?

I'd say you're running into this issue:

Postgresql not creating db with “createdb” as superuser, yet not outputting errors

ie you're trying to use dropdb as a psql command, when it's a unix shell command. You're not getting an error because of this:

In psql, why do some commands have no effect?

You didn't terminate the command with a semicolon.

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:22

CommunityBot

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answered Nov 16, 2012 at 23:52

Craig Ringer

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Comments

Sandip Subedi · Accepted Answer · 2019-06-04 20:46:49Z

4

Are you missing the comma(;)? This command worked for me:

drop database <database_name>;

answered Jun 4, 2019 at 20:46

Sandip Subedi

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1 Comment

Vinn Over a year ago

Thank you. This was my problem. I have used postgres mainly through my code. The command line does not throw errors when you miss the semi-colon ;

aerijman · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-07 21:01:32Z

2

Server should be running, then:

dropdb <database name>

If server is not running, first try:

pg_ctl start -D <mylocal_db_path> -l <mylogfile.log>

answered Jun 7, 2020 at 21:01

aerijman

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Jhonny Ramirez Zeballos · Accepted Answer · 2023-07-21 13:02:04Z

0

dropdb -h <ip> -p 5432 -U postgres --if-exists --echo <dbname>

answered Jul 21, 2023 at 13:02

Jhonny Ramirez Zeballos

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