How to Change a Table Name in MySQL

Changing a table name in MySQL is pretty simple. You can do it with the RENAME TABLE statement. This post explores how it works.

What isRENAME TABLE in MySQL?

Use the RENAME TABLE statement to change the name of an existing table to a new one. Here’s the basic syntax for executing this operation in MySQL:

RENAME TABLE old_table_name TO new_table_name;

Example

To rename a table from user_data to customer_data, execute the following SQL command:

RENAME TABLE user_data TO customer_data;

By running this command, you will have successfully renamed the user_data table to customer_data.

How to rename multiple tables in a single query?

MySQL facilitates renaming multiple tables in a single operation, which is particularly handy for applying batch updates to your database schema. The syntax to rename multiple tables at once is as follows:

RENAME TABLE old_table_name1 TO new_table_name1,
             old_table_name2 TO new_table_name2,
             ...;

For instance, to rename table1 to new_table1 and table2 to new_table2, use:

RENAME TABLE table1 TO new_table1,
             table2 TO new_table2;

Precautions and considerations

• Make sure to halt other operations on the table during the rename process to prevent conflicts.
• Update any references to the old table name in application code, views, stored procedures, or triggers.
• Verify that you have the necessary permissions: ALTER and DROP privileges for the old table, and CREATE and INSERT privileges for the new table.

Understanding and utilizing the ability to rename tables in MySQL is crucial for maintaining an organized and efficient database schema, highlighting the value of good naming practices in database administration.