> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.kinetica.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Naming

<a id="sql-name-resolution" />

## Name Resolution

Most database objects ([tables](/content/sql/ddl#sql-create-table),
[views](/content/sql/ddl#sql-create-view), etc.) can be addressed using a
*qualified name*, by prefixing the name of the object with the name of its
containing *schema*, separated by a dot; e.g.:

```sql theme={null}
<schema name>.<table/view name>
```

For the full list of *schema*-contained objects, see
[CREATE SCHEMA](/content/sql/ddl#sql-create-schema).

If these objects are referenced without a *schema*, they will be looked for in
the user's [default schema](/content/concepts/schemas#schema-default), if one has been
assigned.

The *default schema* can be overridden within an ODBC/JDBC session by issuing
the [SET CURRENT SCHEMA](/content/sql/ddl#sql-current-schema) command.  Once set, the new *schema* will be used
to resolve *unqualified names* **instead** of the *default schema*--the user's
*default schema* will be ignored for the purposes of name resolution.

<a id="sql-naming-criteria" />

## Naming Criteria

Each database object is identified by a name, which will have the following SQL
validation applied:

* Between 1 and 200 characters long
* First character is alphabetic, `_`, or `#`; if the object name is
  double-quoted, it can start with a number
* Each subsequent character must be alphanumeric, `_`, or `#`; if the object
  name is double-quoted, the following symbols, including spaces, can be used:
  `{` `}` `[` `]` `(` `)` `:` `-`
* Unique within its containing *schema*--cannot have the same name as another
  object of the same type in the same *schema* (two *credentials* can't have the
  same name in the same *schema*); *tables* & *views* are of the same "type" for
  this rule (a *table* can't have the same name as a *view* in the same
  *schema*)

Column names must meet the following criteria:

* Between 1 and 200 characters long
* First character is alphabetic or `_`; if the object name is double-quoted,
  it can start with a number
* Alphanumeric, including this symbol: `_`; if the object name is
  double-quoted, the following symbols can be used:
  `{` `}` `[` `]` `:` `.`

<Info>
  Names that begin with a digit or contain a special character may need
  to be double-quoted when referenced.  For example:

  ```sql SELECT with Special Object Names theme={null}
  SELECT "1st.name", "last.name"
  FROM "employee-sync"."1on1s"
  ORDER BY "1st.name"
  ```
</Info>

<a id="sql-naming-reserved-words" />

## Reserved Words

For a list of the reserved words within *Kinetica* see
[SQL Reserved Word List](/content/sql/sql_reserved_words).