How Can I Retrieve Table Names from a Specific Database Using SQL?

SQL Queries to Retrieve Table Names from a Specific Database

Often, database administrators and application developers need to retrieve a list of table names within a particular database. The approach varies slightly depending on the database system (e.g., MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle). A single, universally compatible query isn't possible due to differences in database schema structures.

The Challenge: Standard INFORMATION_SCHEMA queries often return tables from all databases on the server, not just the desired one.

The Solution: We need to add a database-specific filter to the query.

Database-Specific Queries:

• SQL Server:

SELECT TABLE_NAME
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES
WHERE TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE' AND TABLE_CATALOG = 'dbName'

• MySQL:

SELECT TABLE_NAME
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES
WHERE TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE' AND TABLE_SCHEMA = 'dbName'

Replace "dbName" with the actual name of your target database.

• Oracle:

For Oracle, the INFORMATION_SCHEMA approach differs. To retrieve tables for the current user's schema:

SELECT TABLE_NAME FROM USER_TABLES

To specify a different schema (requires appropriate privileges):

SELECT TABLE_NAME FROM DBA_TABLES WHERE OWNER = '<schema_name>'

Replace <schema_name> with the schema owner's name.

This information provides adaptable SQL solutions for retrieving table names, ensuring compatibility across various database platforms. Remember to adjust the dbName or schema_name values to match your environment.

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