PostgreSQL 7.1.3 Documentation
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# CREATE VIEW

## Name

CREATE VIEW -- Constructs a virtual table

## Synopsis

    CREATE VIEW view AS SELECT query

### Inputs

`view`

  The name of a view to be created.

`query`

  An SQL query which will provide the columns and rows of the view.

  Refer to the SELECT statement for more information about valid arguments.

### Outputs

`CREATE`

  The message returned if the view is successfully created.

`ERROR: Relation '`view`' already exists`

  This error occurs if the view specified already exists in the database.

`NOTICE create: attribute named "`column`" has an unknown type`

  The view will be created having a column with an unknown type if you do not specify it. For example, the following command gives a warning:

      CREATE VIEW vista AS SELECT 'Hello World'

  whereas this command does not:

      CREATE VIEW vista AS SELECT text 'Hello World'

## Description

CREATE VIEW will define a view of a table. This view is not physically materialized. Specifically, a query rewrite retrieve rule is automatically generated to support retrieve operations on views.

### Notes

Currently, views are read only.

Use the DROP VIEW statement to drop views.

## Usage

Create a view consisting of all Comedy films:

    CREATE VIEW kinds AS
        SELECT *
        FROM films
        WHERE kind = 'Comedy';

    SELECT * FROM kinds;

     code  |           title           | did | date_prod  |  kind  | len
    -------+---------------------------+-----+------------+--------+-------
     UA502 | Bananas                   | 105 | 1971-07-13 | Comedy | 01:22
     C_701 | There's a Girl in my Soup | 107 | 1970-06-11 | Comedy | 01:36
    (2 rows)

## Compatibility

### SQL92

SQL92 specifies some additional capabilities for the CREATE VIEW statement:

    CREATE VIEW view [ column [, ...] ]
        AS SELECT expression [ AS colname ] [, ...]
        FROM table [ WHERE condition ]
        [ WITH [ CASCADE | LOCAL ] CHECK OPTION ]

The optional clauses for the full SQL92 command are:

CHECK OPTION

  This option is to do with updatable views. All INSERTs and UPDATEs on the view will be checked to ensure data satisfy the view-defining condition. If they do not, the update will be rejected.

LOCAL

  Check for integrity on this view.

CASCADE

  Check for integrity on this view and on any dependent view. CASCADE is assumed if neither CASCADE nor LOCAL is specified.

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