Rename Table in PostgreSQL

Use the ALTER TABLE RENAME TO statement to change name of the existing table.

When you rename the table and give it a new name, Postges will automatically update all its dependent database objects like procedures, functions, views, foreign key constraints etc.

Postgres will raise an error If you try to rename a table that does not exists. Use IF EXISTS clause to prevent error and ignore the ALTER statement if a table does not exists.

Syntax: Rename Table

ALTER TABLE IF EXISTS <table_name>
RENAME TO <new_table_name>;

Consider that you have the following person table.

Example: Create Table

CREATE TABLE person(
    Id 	INT PRIMARY KEY,
    first_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
    last_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
    gender CHAR(1),
    birthdate DATE,
    email VARCHAR(100) 
);

To rename from person to employee, use the following ALTER TABLE statement:

Example: Rename Table

ALTER TABLE person
RENAME TO employee;

The above will change the name from person to employee, as shown below.