## Synopsis

Use the `ALTER SCHEMA` statement to change the definition of a schema.

## Syntax

{{%ebnf%}}
  alter_schema
{{%/ebnf%}}

## Semantics

* ALTER SCHEMA changes the definition of a schema.
* In order to use `ALTER SCHEMA`, you need to be the owner of the schema.
* Renaming a schema requires having the `CREATE` privilege for the database.
* If you want to change the owner, you must also be a direct or indirect member of the new owning role, and you need to have the `CREATE` privilege for the database. (It's worth noting that superusers possess these privileges by default.)

### *alter_schema*

#### ALTER SCHEMA *schema_name*

Specify the name of the schema (*schema_name*). An error is raised if a schema with that name does not exist in the current database.

#### schema_name

The name of the schema.

#### RENAME TO *new_name*

Rename the schema.

#### new_name

Schema names must not begin with `pg_`. The attempt to create a schema with such a name, or to rename an existing schema to have such a name, causes an error.

#### OWNER TO  (*new_owner* | *CURRENT_USER* | *SESSION_USER*)

Change the owner of the schema.

#### new_owner

The new owner of the schema.

#### CURRENT_USER

Username of current execution context.

#### SESSION_USER

Username of current session.

## Examples

Create a simple schema.

```plpgsql
yugabyte=# CREATE SCHEMA schema22;
```

```
CREATE SCHEMA
```

Rename the schema.

```plpgsql
yugabyte=# ALTER SCHEMA schema22 RENAME TO schema25;
```

```
ALTER SCHEMA
```

```plpgsql
yugabyte=# \dn
```

```
   List of schemas
   Name   |  Owner
----------+----------
 public   | postgres
 schema25 | yugabyte
(2 rows)

```

Change the owner of the schema.

```plpgsql
yugabyte=# ALTER SCHEMA schema25 OWNER TO postgres;
```

```
ALTER SCHEMA
```

```plpgsql
yugabyte=# \dn
```

```
   List of schemas
   Name   |  Owner
----------+----------
 public   | postgres
 schema25 | postgres
(2 rows)
```

## See also

- [`CREATE SCHEMA`](../ddl_create_schema)
- [`DROP SCHEMA`](../ddl_drop_schema)