SQL DROP VIEW Keyword

 The DROP VIEW keyword in SQL is used to delete an existing view from the database. A view is a virtual table based on the result set of an SQL query, and dropping a view removes it entirely from the database schema.

Syntax:

DROP VIEW view_name;

• view_name: The name of the view you want to drop.

Key Points:

1. Irreversible Action: Once a view is dropped, it cannot be recovered unless recreated.
2. Permissions: You must have the appropriate permissions to drop a view.
3. Impact: Dropping a view does not delete the underlying data, as the view is not a physical table.
4. Dependent Objects: If other objects (e.g., procedures or views) depend on the view, you may need to update or delete those objects first.

Example:

Creating and Dropping a View:

-- Create a view
CREATE VIEW EmployeeView AS
SELECT EmployeeID, FirstName, LastName, Department
FROM Employees
WHERE Department = 'HR';

-- Drop the view
DROP VIEW EmployeeView;

In this example:

1. The EmployeeView is created to display employees in the HR department.
2. The DROP VIEW command deletes the EmployeeView.

Dropping Multiple Views:

In some database systems (e.g., MySQL), you can drop multiple views in one statement:

DROP VIEW view_name1, view_name2;

Ensure you double-check the views you want to drop to avoid accidental deletions.