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A schema is a container for all database objects, providing namespacing for them. Namespacing occurs at the schema level and at the category level, meaning that:
  • One schema could contain a table with the same name as a table in another schema.
  • One schema could contain a data source and data sink with the same name.
  • One schema cannot contain an external table and a view with the same name.
Each object in the database will have a containing schema; no object will exist outside of all schemas.

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Name Resolution

A database object within a specific schema can be addressed by qualified name, prefixing the object name with the schema name separated by a dot; e.g.: 
<schema name>.<object name>
Database objects referenced without a qualified name will be looked for in the user’s default schema, if assigned.

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Naming Criteria

Each schema is identified by a name, which must meet the following criteria:
  • Between 1 and 200 characters long
  • Alphanumeric, including spaces and these symbols: _ { } [ ] : - ( ) #
  • First character is alphanumeric or an underscore
  • Unique among schemas—cannot have the same name as another schema, but can have the same name as any other database object

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Visibility

A schema will be visible to any user in any of the following situations:
  • The user has system_admin, system_read, or system_write permission
  • The user has table_admin or table_read permission on the schema
  • The user has table_admin or table_read permission on at least one table or view within the schema
The home schema will always be visible to all users.

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Default Schema

A default schema can be associated with any user, to apply a default containing schema to any table or other object references that a user makes when the user does not specify a schema explicitly. When creating a table or other object, including the result table of any operation, without specifying the schema, that object will be created in the user’s default schema. If the user has no default schema, an error will be returned. When attempting to perform an operation on an existing table or other object (reading, writing, altering, etc.) without specifying a schema, the object will be looked for in the user’s default schema. If it is not found there, or if the user has no default schema, an error will be returned. A user can be assigned a default schema during creation, using the /create/user/internal endpoint, or after creation, using the /alter/user endpoint.

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Home Schema

Upgrades from releases of Kinetica prior to version 7.1 will have a home schema named ki_home. Any top-level tables (those not contained within a schema) that existed prior to the upgrade will be moved to the home schema during the upgrade. Any users that existed prior to the upgrade will be given the home schema as their default schema, so that any unqualified references to those top-tables in existing applications will continue to function without modification. All new users will have the home schema as their default schema by default as well, for consistency.

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Built-in Schemas

In addition to the home schema, there are several schemas that may exist in a default Kinetica installation.
SchemaDescription
demoContains any demo datasets loaded into the database.
ki_homeThe Kinetica home schema, and the default schema for all users.
sys_securityContains temporary tables created during row/column security processing.
Only visible to users with sys_admin permission.
sys_sql_tempContains temporary tables created during the execution of SQL queries.
Only visible to users with sys_admin permission.
sys_tempContains temporary tables created in processing user requests.
Only visible to users with sys_admin permission.
SYSTEMContains the ITER virtual table.

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Schema Management

Schemas have the same naming criteria as tables, and cannot be named any of the following, regardless of case:
  • KINETICA
  • PUBLIC
  • ROOT
  • SYSTEM
A schema can be created using the /create/schema endpoint. After a schema is created, tables and other objects can be added to the schema at creation time using any endpoints that create them, prefixing the name of the object to create with the schema name, separated by a dot. A schema can be dropped using the /drop/schema endpoint.