# system.tables

Lists tables and views across registered databases and the observing connection's temporary namespace. Use database and schema_name to distinguish objects with the same name.

## Columns

| Name               | Meaning                                            |
| ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------- |
| database           | Managed database containing the object.            |
| schema_name        | Namespace such as main or temp.                    |
| table_name         | Object name.                                       |
| table_type         | Object classification, such as BASE TABLE or VIEW. |
| definition         | SQL definition text.                               |
| name               | Object-name field for compatible metadata queries. |
| create_table_query | Creation SQL.                                      |
| is_temporary       | Whether it is a temporary object.                  |
| total_rows         | Available row estimate, or NULL.                   |
| total_bytes        | Available byte estimate, or NULL.                  |

The estimates are not a guarantee of an exact count. Use a concrete query when an exact result is required.

## Example

```sql
CREATE TABLE documented_table(id UInt32);
CREATE VIEW documented_view AS SELECT id FROM documented_table;
```

```sql
SELECT table_name, table_type
FROM system.tables
WHERE table_name IN ('documented_table', 'documented_view')
  AND schema_name = 'main'
ORDER BY table_name
FORMAT csv;
```

```text
"documented_table","BASE TABLE"
"documented_view","VIEW"
```

## Management

Validated persistent catalog writes are supported for management. CREATE, ALTER and DROP are the normal object interface; the relation's observational fields are not arbitrary writable table data.

Use the system qualifier through a server interface. See [system.columns](https://coordinatordb.com/docs/reference/system-tables/columns) for fields and [SQL statements](https://coordinatordb.com/docs/reference/statements) for object operations.