Create a database schema

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW)

This article describes how to create a schema in SQL Server by using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL.

Limitations and Restrictions

• The new schema is owned by one of the following database-level principals: database user, database role, or application role. Objects created within a schema are owned by the owner of the schema, and have a NULL principal_id in sys.objects. Ownership of schema-contained objects can be transferred to any database-level principal, but the schema owner always retains CONTROL permission on objects within the schema.

• When creating a database object, if you specify a valid domain principal (user or group) as the object owner, the domain principal is added to the database as a schema. The new schema is owned by that domain principal.

Permissions

• Requires CREATE SCHEMA permission on the database.

• To specify another user as the owner of the schema being created, the caller must have IMPERSONATE permission on that user. If a database role is specified as the owner, the caller must meet one of the following criteria: membership in the role or ALTER permission on the role.

Using SQL Server Management Studio to create a schema

1. In Object Explorer, expand the Databases folder.

2. Expand the database in which to create the new database schema.

3. Right-click the Security folder, point to New, and select Schema.

4. In the Schema - New dialog box, on the General page, enter a name for the new schema in the Schema name box.

5. In the Schema owner box, enter the name of a database user or role to own the schema. Alternately, select Search to open the Search Roles and Users dialog box.

6. Select OK.

Additional Options

The Schema - New dialog box also offers options on two additional pages: Permissions and Extended Properties.

• The Permissions page lists all possible securables and the permissions on those securables that can be granted to the login.

• The Extended properties page allows you to add custom properties to database users.

Using Transact-SQL to create a schema

1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of Database Engine.

2. On the Standard bar, select New Query.

3. The following example creates a schema named Chains, and then creates a table named Sizes.

   CREATE SCHEMA Chains;
   GO
   CREATE TABLE Chains.Sizes (ChainID int, width dec(10,2));
   

4. Additional options can be performed in a single statement. The following example creates the schema Sprockets owned by Joe that contains the table NineProngs. The statement grants SELECT to Bob and denies SELECT to John.

   CREATE SCHEMA Sprockets AUTHORIZATION Joe  
       CREATE TABLE NineProngs (source int, cost int, partnumber int)  
       GRANT SELECT ON SCHEMA::Sprockets TO Bob  
       DENY SELECT ON SCHEMA::Sprockets TO John;  
   GO  
   

5. Execute the following statement to view the schemas in the current database:

   SELECT * FROM sys.schemas;
   

Next steps

For more information, see CREATE SCHEMA (Transact-SQL).