Dropping a Database

Dropping a database involves removing its datafiles, redo log files, control files, and initialization parameter files. The DROP DATABASE statement deletes all control files and all other database files listed in the control file. It then shuts down the database instance.

To use the DROP DATABASE statement successfully, all of the following conditions must apply:

• The database must be mounted and closed.

• The database must be mounted exclusively--not in shared mode.

• The database must be mounted as RESTRICTED.

An example of this statement is:

DROP DATABASE;

The DROP DATABASE statement has no effect on archived log files, nor does it have any effect on copies or backups of the database. It is best to use RMAN to delete such files. If the database is on raw disks, the actual raw disk special files are not deleted.

If you used the Database Configuration Assistant to create your database, you can use that tool to delete (drop) your database and remove the files.