SQLite Show Tables

Definition of SQLite Show Tables

SQLite is a lightweight database and it provides a different useful command that is shown to the SQLite developers. In which that user or SQLite developer can list all tables from the SQLite database. These all commands are also called dot commands and they are not terminated by using semicolon (;). SQLite database provides simple command-line commands that are helpful to users to manually execute the different SQL statements. There are two ways to list all tables from the database, as per requirement user or SQLite developer can use any one of them.

Syntax:

.tables

Explanation:

Syntax of the show table is very simple and easy, here we just mentioned a dot table that is (.tables).

How to show tables in SQLite?

Now let’s see how the show table works in SQLite as follows.
The SQLite project gives a basic command-line program named sqlite3 (or sqlite3.exe on Windows) that permits the client to physically enter and execute SQL different statements against SQLite data set or against a ZIP chronicle. This record gives a concise acquaintance on how to utilize the sqlite3 program.

Start the sqlite3 program by composing “sqlite3” at the order brief, alternatively followed by the name of the record that holds the SQLite database (or ZIP chronicle). In the event that the named record doesn’t exist, another information base document with the given name will be made consequently. In the event that no data set record is indicated on the order line, a transitory information base is made, at that point erased when the “sqlite3” program exits.

On startup, the sqlite3 program will show a short pennant message at that point brief you to enter SQL. Type in SQL explanations (ended by a semicolon), press “Enter” and the SQL will be executed.

.tables has special command in SQLite

More often than not, sqlite3 simply peruses lines of info and gives them to the SQLite library for execution. However, input lines that start with a dab (“.”) are caught and deciphered by the sqlite3 program itself. These “speck orders” are commonly used to change the yield configuration of inquiries, or to execute certain prepackaged inquiry explanations. There were initially only a couple of speck orders, however, throughout the long term numerous new highlights have aggregated so today there are more than 60.

Rules for dot command (.tables)

Normal SQL statements are freestyle, and can be spread across various lines, and can have whitespace and remarks anyplace. Speck orders are more prohibitive:

A dot command should start with the “.” at the left edge with no previous whitespace. The dot command should be completely contained on a solitary info line.

A dot command can’t happen in a standard SQL statement. As such, a dot command can’t happen at a continuation brief.

Dot command doesn’t perceive remarks.

The dot command is deciphered by the sqlite3.exe order line program, not by SQLite itself. So none of the dot commands will fill in as a contention to SQLite interfaces like sqlite3_prepare () or sqlite3_exec ().

Examples

Now let’s see the different examples of the show table as follows. First, we need to create a different table by using the following statement as follows.

create table emp (emp_id integer primary key, emp_name text not null, emp_dept text not null, emp_salary text not null);

Similarly, we can create two more tables that are students and company by using the above statement.

Now we are able to perform the .table command as follows.

.tables

Explanation

In the above example, we use the .table command to list all tables from SQLite database. In this example, we already created three different tables such as emp, students, and company. The end result of the above statement as shown below screenshot.

As reference, you can likewise give an argument to this command. Such an argument can be utilized to restrict the tables returned by the order. For instance, you can name a particular table, or you can utilize design pattern coordinating to return just tables that match a given example.

.tables e%

Explanation

In the above example, we use a like clause to return a specific pattern, here we need to return those table names starting with e. The end result of the above statement is shown below screenshot.

Now let’s see another way to show the table from the SQLite database as follows.

SELECT name FROM sqlite_master
WHERE type IN ('table','view')
AND name NOT LIKE 'sqlite_%'
ORDER BY 1;

Explanation

In the above example, we use a select clause with the name parameter that we accessed from the sqlite_master table as shown in the above statement. Here we also used where clause to specify the condition that is the type that means a table that we need to access and finally we used not as a clause to skip the SQLite table because this is a system generator table.

The thing is that the technique just returns results for the essential information from the database (the .tables order returns results for every single connected data set). The end result of the above statement is shown in the below screenshot.

Suppose we need to skip the view at that time we can use the following statement as follows.

SELECT name FROM sqlite_master
WHERE type = 'table'
AND name NOT LIKE 'sqlite_%'
ORDER BY 1;

Explanation

In this case, there is no view so it returns the only tables from the SQLite database. In the above example, we use a select clause with the name parameter that we accessed from the sqlite_master table as shown in the above statement. Here we also used where clause to specify the condition that is the type that means a table that we need to access and finally we used not as a clause to skip the SQLite table because this is a system generator table. The end result of the above statement is shown in the below screenshot.

Conclusion

We hope from this article you have understood about the SQLite show table. From the above article, we have learned the basic syntax of SQLite show table and we also see different examples of SQLite show table. We also learned the rules of SQLite show tables. From this article, we learned how and when we use the SQLite show table.

Recommended Articles

This is a guide to SQLite Show Tables. Here we discuss the definition, syntax, and How to show tables in SQLite? with examples. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –

1. SQLite Commands
2. SQLite add column
3. SQLite
4. SQL COALESCE