# DROP TABLE
<a name="drop-table"></a>

Removes the metadata table definition for the table named `table_name`. When you drop an external table, the underlying data remains intact.

## Synopsis
<a name="synopsis"></a>

```
DROP TABLE [IF EXISTS] table_name
```

## Parameters
<a name="parameters"></a>

**[ IF EXISTS ]**  
Causes the error to be suppressed if `table_name` doesn't exist.

## Examples
<a name="examples"></a>

```
DROP TABLE fulfilled_orders
```

```
DROP TABLE IF EXISTS fulfilled_orders
```

When using the Athena console query editor to drop a table that has special characters other than the underscore (\$1), use backticks, as in the following example.

```
DROP TABLE `my-athena-database-01.my-athena-table`
```

When using the JDBC connector to drop a table that has special characters, backtick characters are not required.

```
DROP TABLE my-athena-database-01.my-athena-table
```