# SHOW TABLES
<a name="show-tables"></a>

Lists all the base tables and views in a database.

**Note**  
The [StatementType](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/athena/latest/APIReference/API_QueryExecution.html#athena-Type-QueryExecution-StatementType) parameter for `SHOW TABLES` in [GetQueryExecution](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/athena/latest/APIReference/API_GetQueryExecution.html) API operation is categorized as `UTILITY`, not `DDL`.

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

```
SHOW TABLES [IN database_name] ['regular_expression']
```

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

**[IN database\_name]**  
Specifies the `database_name` from which tables will be listed. If omitted, the database from the current context is assumed.  
`SHOW TABLES` may fail if `database_name` uses an [unsupported character](tables-databases-columns-names.md) such as a hyphen. As a workaround, try enclosing the database name in backticks.

**['regular\_expression']**  
Filters the list of tables to those that match the `regular_expression` you specify. To indicate any character in `AWSDataCatalog` tables, you can use the `*` or `.*` wildcard expression. For Apache Hive databases, use the `.*` wildcard expression. To indicate a choice between characters, use the `|` character.

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

**Example – Show all of the tables in the database `sampledb`**  

```
SHOW TABLES IN sampledb
```
`Results`  

```
alb_logs
cloudfront_logs
elb_logs
flights_2016
flights_parquet
view_2016_flights_dfw
```

**Example – Show the names of all tables in `sampledb` that include the word "flights"**  

```
SHOW TABLES IN sampledb '*flights*'
```
`Results`  

```
flights_2016
flights_parquet
view_2016_flights_dfw
```

**Example – Show the names of all tables in `sampledb` that end in the word "logs"**  

```
SHOW TABLES IN sampledb '*logs'
```
`Results`  

```
alb_logs
cloudfront_logs
elb_logs
```