create_table_as(7)

NAME#

CREATE_TABLE_AS - define a new table from the results of a query

SYNOPSIS#

CREATE [ [ GLOBAL | LOCAL ] { TEMPORARY | TEMP } | UNLOGGED ] TABLE [ IF NOT EXISTS ] \ntable_name\n
\n
    [ (\ncolumn_name\n [, ...] ) ]
\n
    [ USING \nmethod\n ]
\n
    [ WITH ( \nstorage_parameter\n [= \nvalue\n] [, ... ] ) | WITHOUT OIDS ]
\n
    [ ON COMMIT { PRESERVE ROWS | DELETE ROWS | DROP } ]
\n
    [ TABLESPACE \ntablespace_name\n ]
\n
    AS \nquery\n
\n
    [ WITH [ NO ] DATA ]

DESCRIPTION#

CREATE TABLE AS creates a table and fills it with data computed by a SELECT command. The table columns have the names and data types associated with the output columns of the SELECT (except that you can override the column names by giving an explicit list of new column names).

CREATE TABLE AS bears some resemblance to creating a view, but it is really quite different: it creates a new table and evaluates the query just once to fill the new table initially. The new table will not track subsequent changes to the source tables of the query. In contrast, a view re-evaluates its defining SELECT statement whenever it is queried.

CREATE TABLE AS requires CREATE privilege on the schema used for the table.

PARAMETERS#

GLOBAL or LOCAL

TEMPORARY or TEMP

UNLOGGED

IF NOT EXISTS

table_name

column_name

USING method

WITH ( storage_parameter [= value] [, ... ] )

WITHOUT OIDS

ON COMMIT

PRESERVE ROWS

DELETE ROWS

DROP

TABLESPACE tablespace_name

query

WITH [ NO ] DATA

NOTES#

This command is functionally similar to SELECT INTO (SELECT_INTO(7)), but it is preferred since it is less likely to be confused with other uses of the SELECT INTO syntax. Furthermore, CREATE TABLE AS offers a superset of the functionality offered by SELECT INTO.

EXAMPLES#

Create a new table films_recent consisting of only recent entries from the table films:

CREATE TABLE films_recent AS
\n
  SELECT * FROM films WHERE date_prod >= '2002-01-01';

To copy a table completely, the short form using the TABLE command can also be used:

CREATE TABLE films2 AS
\n
  TABLE films;

Create a new temporary table films_recent, consisting of only recent entries from the table films, using a prepared statement. The new table will be dropped at commit:

PREPARE recentfilms(date) AS
\n
  SELECT * FROM films WHERE date_prod > $1;
CREATE TEMP TABLE films_recent ON COMMIT DROP AS
\n
  EXECUTE recentfilms('2002-01-01');

COMPATIBILITY#

CREATE TABLE AS conforms to the SQL standard. The following are nonstandard extensions:

SEE ALSO#

CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW (CREATE_MATERIALIZED_VIEW(7)), CREATE TABLE (CREATE_TABLE(7)), EXECUTE(7), SELECT(7), SELECT INTO (SELECT_INTO(7)), VALUES(7)