MySQL Create table IF NOT EXISTS syntax error

Question

I am kind of new to MySQL and i am trying to get to know the commands, and i thought starting with how to make a table might not be such a bad idear.

However, the only command i find online keeps returning a syntax error. I must be doing something wrong, do you guys see what it is?

CREATE TABLE [IF NOT EXISTS] test (test_column date);

-Natan

EDIT 1:

If you downvote, please leave a reason why and be prepared to remove it if i fix it.

EDIT 2:

Stackoverflow had this question identified as a duplicate of a completely different question. so i am now required to explain why. Hereby: My question is about the create table statement, this persons code is much more complicated and about the IF statement.

The [ and ] is not valid syntax. It's probably meant to symbolise an optional argument, but you should remove them from your query. — Johan
– Johan, Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 7:30
Don't worry about it, everyone here have done similar things, it's part of being a developer :) — Johan
– Johan, Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 7:35
You may need to read up on typographical and syntax conventions in mysql documentation dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.0/en/manual-conventions.html — P.Salmon
– P.Salmon, Commented Oct 17, 2018 at 7:45

cn0047 · Accepted Answer · 2018-10-17 07:33:26Z

4

Your query must looks like this:

CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS test (test_column date);

[IF NOT EXISTS] it's part which you can omit, it isn't required (that's why it is in brackets). And it means that you can run query without this part, like:

CREATE TABLE test (test_column date);

But in this case your query will fail if table test already exists.

edited Oct 17, 2018 at 7:33

answered Oct 17, 2018 at 7:31

cn0047

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1 Comment

That One Over a year ago

I will flag this as the answer in a minute. Thank you!

Fahmi · Accepted Answer · 2018-10-17 07:34:03Z

0

Try below

CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS test (
    test_column date
)

edited Oct 17, 2018 at 7:34

answered Oct 17, 2018 at 7:31

Fahmi

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1 Comment

Fahmi Over a year ago

@ThatOne, that's not required

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