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Manage databases

A database is a container for SQL objects such as schemas, tables, views, functions, and indexes. In the Neon object hierarchy, a database exists within a branch of a project. There is no limit on the number of databases you can create.

A Neon project's primary branch is created with a default database called neondb, which is owned by your project's default role (see Manage roles for more information). You can create your own databases in a project's primary branch or in a child branch.

All databases in Neon are created with a public schema. SQL objects are created in the public schema by default. For more information about the public schema, refer to The Public schema, in the PostgreSQL documentation.

Databases belong to branch. If you create a child branch, databases from the parent branch are copied to the child branch. For example, if database mydb exists in the parent branch, database mydb is copied to the child branch. The only time this does not occur is when you create a branch that only includes data up to a particular point in time. If a database was created in the parent branch after that point in time, that database is not copied to the child branch.

Create a database

To create a database:

  1. Navigate to the Neon Console.
  2. Select Databases.
  3. Click New Database.
  4. Select the branch where you want to create the database, enter a database name, and select a database owner.
  5. Click Create.

View databases

To view databases:

  1. Navigate to the Neon Console.
  2. Select Databases
  3. Select a branch to view the databases in the branch.

Delete a database

Deleting a database is a permanent action. All database objects belonging to the database such as schemas, tables, and roles are also deleted.

To delete a database:

  1. Navigate to the Neon Console.
  2. Select Databases.
  3. Select a branch to view the databases in the branch.
  4. For the database you want to delete, click the delete icon.
  5. In the confirmation dialog, click Delete.

Manage databases with the Neon API

Database actions performed in the Neon Console can also be also performed using the Neon API. The following examples demonstrate how to create, view, update, and delete databases using the Neon API. For other database-related methods, refer to the Neon API reference.

In Neon, databases belong to branches, which means that when you create a database, it is created in a branch. Database-related requests are therefore performed using branch API methods.

note

The API examples that follow may not show all of the user-configurable request body attributes that are available to you. To view all of the attributes for a particular method, refer to method's request body schema in the Neon API reference.

The jq option specified in each example is an optional third-party tool that formats the JSON response, making it easier to read. For information about this utility, see jq.

Prerequisites

A Neon API request requires an API key. For information about obtaining an API key, see Create an API key. In the cURL examples shown below, $NEON_API_KEY is specified in place of an actual API key, which you must provide when making a Neon API request.

Create a database with the API

The following Neon API method creates a database. To view the API documentation for this method, refer to the Neon API reference.

POST /projects/{project_id}/branches/{branch_id}/databases

The API method appears as follows when specified in a cURL command. The project_id and branch_id are required parameters, and a database name and owner are required attributes.

curl 'https://console.neon.tech/api/v2/projects/hidden-cell-763301/branches/br-blue-tooth-671580/databases' \
  -H 'Accept: application/json' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
  "database": {
    "name": "mydb",
    "owner_name": "casey"
  }
}' | jq

Response:

{
  "database": {
    "id": 1140822,
    "branch_id": "br-blue-tooth-671580",
    "name": "mydb",
    "owner_name": "casey",
    "created_at": "2023-01-04T21:17:17Z",
    "updated_at": "2023-01-04T21:17:17Z"
  },
  "operations": [
    {
      "id": "6fc5969a-c445-4bc1-9f94-4dfbab4ad293",
      "project_id": "hidden-cell-763301",
      "branch_id": "br-blue-tooth-671580",
      "endpoint_id": "ep-aged-math-668285",
      "action": "apply_config",
      "status": "running",
      "failures_count": 0,
      "created_at": "2023-01-04T21:17:17Z",
      "updated_at": "2023-01-04T21:17:17Z"
    },
    {
      "id": "a0e78873-399a-45e4-9728-dde0b36f0941",
      "project_id": "hidden-cell-763301",
      "branch_id": "br-blue-tooth-671580",
      "endpoint_id": "ep-aged-math-668285",
      "action": "suspend_compute",
      "status": "scheduling",
      "failures_count": 0,
      "created_at": "2023-01-04T21:17:17Z",
      "updated_at": "2023-01-04T21:17:17Z"
    }
  ]
}

List databases with the API

The following Neon API method lists databases for the specified branch. To view the API documentation for this method, refer to the Neon API reference.

GET /projects/{project_id}/branches/{branch_id}/databases

The API method appears as follows when specified in a cURL command. The project_id and branch_id are required parameters.

curl 'https://console.neon.tech/api/v2/projects/hidden-cell-763301/branches/br-blue-tooth-671580/databases' \
  -H 'Accept: application/json' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY' | jq

Response:

{
  "databases": [
    {
      "id": 1139149,
      "branch_id": "br-blue-tooth-671580",
      "name": "neondb",
      "owner_name": "casey",
      "created_at": "2023-01-04T18:38:23Z",
      "updated_at": "2023-01-04T18:38:23Z"
    },
    {
      "id": 1140822,
      "branch_id": "br-blue-tooth-671580",
      "name": "mydb",
      "owner_name": "casey",
      "created_at": "2023-01-04T21:17:17Z",
      "updated_at": "2023-01-04T21:17:17Z"
    }
  ]
}

Update a database with the API

The following Neon API method updates the specified database. To view the API documentation for this method, refer to the Neon API reference.

PATCH /projects/{project_id}/branches/{branch_id}/databases/{database_name}

The API method appears as follows when specified in a cURL command. The project_id and branch_id are required parameters. This example updates the database name value to database1.

curl 'https://console.neon.tech/api/v2/projects/hidden-cell-763301/branches/br-blue-tooth-671580/databases/mydb' \
  -H 'Accept: application/json' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
  "database": {
    "name": "database1"
  }
}' | jq

Response:

{
  "database": {
    "id": 1140822,
    "branch_id": "br-blue-tooth-671580",
    "name": "database1",
    "owner_name": "casey",
    "created_at": "2023-01-04T21:17:17Z",
    "updated_at": "2023-01-04T21:17:17Z"
  },
  "operations": [
    {
      "id": "7a3e05b0-385e-490c-a6a3-60bbb8906f57",
      "project_id": "hidden-cell-763301",
      "branch_id": "br-blue-tooth-671580",
      "endpoint_id": "ep-aged-math-668285",
      "action": "apply_config",
      "status": "running",
      "failures_count": 0,
      "created_at": "2023-01-04T21:19:35Z",
      "updated_at": "2023-01-04T21:19:35Z"
    },
    {
      "id": "f2805f7f-4d83-4c58-b3d1-dc678e699106",
      "project_id": "hidden-cell-763301",
      "branch_id": "br-blue-tooth-671580",
      "endpoint_id": "ep-aged-math-668285",
      "action": "suspend_compute",
      "status": "scheduling",
      "failures_count": 0,
      "created_at": "2023-01-04T21:19:35Z",
      "updated_at": "2023-01-04T21:19:35Z"
    }
  ]
}

Delete a database with the API

The following Neon API method deletes the specified database. To view the API documentation for this method, refer to the Neon API reference.

DELETE /projects/{project_id}/branches/{branch_id}/databases/{database_name}

The API method appears as follows when specified in a cURL command. The project_id, branch_id, and database_name are required parameters.

curl -X 'DELETE' \
  'https://console.neon.tech/api/v2/projects/hidden-cell-763301/branches/br-blue-tooth-671580/databases/database1' \
  -H 'Accept: application/json' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY' | jq

Response:

{
  "database": {
    "id": 1140822,
    "branch_id": "br-blue-tooth-671580",
    "name": "database1",
    "owner_name": "casey",
    "created_at": "2023-01-04T21:17:17Z",
    "updated_at": "2023-01-04T21:17:17Z"
  },
  "operations": [
    {
      "id": "1a52afa4-f21b-4ed0-a97f-f7abda9ab49f",
      "project_id": "hidden-cell-763301",
      "branch_id": "br-blue-tooth-671580",
      "endpoint_id": "ep-aged-math-668285",
      "action": "apply_config",
      "status": "running",
      "failures_count": 0,
      "created_at": "2023-01-04T21:20:24Z",
      "updated_at": "2023-01-04T21:20:24Z"
    },
    {
      "id": "f3fe437e-259a-4442-a750-3613d89dbbff",
      "project_id": "hidden-cell-763301",
      "branch_id": "br-blue-tooth-671580",
      "endpoint_id": "ep-aged-math-668285",
      "action": "suspend_compute",
      "status": "scheduling",
      "failures_count": 0,
      "created_at": "2023-01-04T21:20:24Z",
      "updated_at": "2023-01-04T21:20:24Z"
    }
  ]
}

Need help?

Send a request to support@neon.tech, or join the Neon community forum.

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