The CREATE DATABASE statement is used in SQL to create a new database. The syntax can vary slightly between different database management systems (DBMS), but the general format is similar across most systems. Here’s how to use it:
Basic Syntax
CREATE DATABASE database_name;
Example
To create a database named my_database, you would use the following SQL command:
CREATE DATABASE my_database;
Additional Options
Many database management systems support additional options to customize the creation of the database. For example:
1. Character Set: Specify the character set for the database (commonly used in systems like MySQL).
CREATE DATABASE my_database CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci;
2. Ownership: In some systems, you can specify the owner of the database. For example, in PostgreSQL:
CREATE DATABASE my_database WITH OWNER my_user;
Permissions
Remember that you typically need the appropriate permissions to create a database. Ensure that the account you are using has the necessary privileges.
Checking Database Creation
After executing the command to create the database, you can check if it was created successfully by listing all databases using:
SHOW DATABASES; -- MySQL
\l -- PostgreSQL
Important Notes
- Be cautious with naming. Database names must be unique within the same DBMS instance.
- The specifics can depend on the DBMS you are using (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle), so it's good to consult the documentation for your specific system for any further options and details.