CREATE TABLE

A simple table

List each column with its type, then any table-level options.

CREATE TABLE customers (
  id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
  name VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
  email VARCHAR(150) UNIQUE,
  created_at DATETIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
);

Inspecting a table

DESCRIBE (or DESC) shows the column list, types and keys without opening a GUI.

DESC customers;

Output:

Field      | Type         | Null | Key | Default
id         | int          | NO   | PRI | NULL
name       | varchar(100) | NO   |     | NULL
email      | varchar(150) | YES  | UNI | NULL
created_at | datetime     | YES  |     | CURRENT_TIMESTAMP

DROP TABLE is permanent

DROP TABLE customers; deletes the table and all its data instantly — there's no undo without a backup.