Spark SQL Guide

SHOW COLUMNS

Description

Return the list of columns in a table. If the table does not exist, an exception is thrown.

Syntax

SHOW COLUMNS table_identifier [ database ]

Parameters

table_identifier
Specifies the table name of an existing table. The table may be optionally qualified with a database name.

Syntax: { IN | FROM } [ database_name . ] table_name

Note: Keywords IN and FROM are interchangeable.
database
Specifies an optional database name. The table is resolved from this database when it is specified. Please note that when this parameter is specified then table name should not be qualified with a different database name.

Syntax: { IN | FROM } database_name

Note: Keywords IN and FROM are interchangeable.

Examples

-- Create `customer` table in `salesdb` database;
USE salesdb;
CREATE TABLE customer(cust_cd INT,
  name VARCHAR(100),
  cust_addr STRING);

-- List the columns of `customer` table in current database.
SHOW COLUMNS IN customer;
  +---------+
  |col_name |
  +---------+
  |cust_cd  |
  |name     |
  |cust_addr|
  +---------+

-- List the columns of `customer` table in `salesdb` database.
SHOW COLUMNS IN salesdb.customer;
  +---------+
  |col_name |
  +---------+
  |cust_cd  |
  |name     |
  |cust_addr|
  +---------+

-- List the columns of `customer` table in `salesdb` database
SHOW COLUMNS IN customer IN salesdb;
  +---------+
  |col_name |
  +---------+
  |cust_cd  |
  |name     |
  |cust_addr|
  +---------+