# dropdb

dropdb — remove aPostgreSQLdatabase

## Synopsis

`dropdb`\[`connection-option`...] \[`option`...]`dbname`

## Description

dropdbdestroys an existingPostgreSQLdatabase. The user who executes this command must be a database superuser or the owner of the database.

dropdbis a wrapper around theSQLcommand[DROP DATABASE](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/10/static/sql-dropdatabase.html). There is no effective difference between dropping databases via this utility and via other methods for accessing the server.

## Options

dropdbaccepts the following command-line arguments:

`dbname`

Specifies the name of the database to be removed.

`-e`

`--echo`

Echo the commands thatdropdbgenerates and sends to the server.

`-i`

`--interactive`

Issues a verification prompt before doing anything destructive.

`-V`

`--version`

Print thedropdbversion and exit.

`--if-exists`

Do not throw an error if the database does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.

`-?`

`--help`

Show help aboutdropdbcommand line arguments, and exit.

dropdbalso accepts the following command-line arguments for connection parameters:

`-h`

`host`

`--host=`

`host`

Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.

`-p`

`port`

`--port=`

`port`

Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.

`-U`

`username`

`--username=`

`username`

User name to connect as.

`-w`

`--no-password`

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.

`-W`

`--password`

Forcedropdbto prompt for a password before connecting to a database.

This option is never essential, sincedropdbwill automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However,dropdbwill waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing`-W`to avoid the extra connection attempt.

`--maintenance-db=`

`dbname`

Specifies the name of the database to connect to in order to drop the target database. If not specified, the`postgres`database will be used; if that does not exist (or is the database being dropped),`template1`will be used.

## Environment

`PGHOST`

`PGPORT`

`PGUSER`

Default connection parameters

This utility, like most otherPostgreSQLutilities, also uses the environment variables supported bylibpq(see[Section 33.14](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/10/static/libpq-envars.html)).

## Diagnostics

In case of difficulty, see[DROP DATABASE](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/10/static/sql-dropdatabase.html)and[psql](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/10/static/app-psql.html)for discussions of potential problems and error messages. The database server must be running at the targeted host. Also, any default connection settings and environment variables used by thelibpqfront-end library will apply.

## Examples

To destroy the database`demo`on the default database server:

```
$ 
dropdb demo
```

To destroy the database`demo`using the server on host`eden`, port 5000, with verification and a peek at the underlying command:

```
$ 
dropdb -p 5000 -h eden -i -e demo
Database "demo" will be permanently deleted.
Are you sure? (y/n) 
y
DROP DATABASE demo;
```

## See Also

[createdb](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/10/static/app-createdb.html)

,

[DROP DATABASE](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/10/static/sql-dropdatabase.html)


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.postgresql.tw/14/reference/client-applications/dropdb.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.