CartoDB-SQL-API/docs/guides/04-creating-tables.md

## Creating Tables with the SQL API

[Writing data to your CARTO account]({{ site.sqlapi_docs }}/guides/making-calls#write-data-to-your-carto-account) enables you to manage data through SQL queries, it does not automatically connect tables as datasets to _Your datasets_ dashboard in CARTO.

You must apply the `CDB_CartodbfyTable`function to a target table in order to create and display connected datasets in your account. This additional step of "CARTOfying" data is the process of converting an arbitrary PostgreSQL table into a valid CARTO table, and registering it into the system so that it can be used in the graphical user interface, and the CARTO Engine, to generate maps and analysis.

### Create Tables

To create a visible table in CARTO, run the following SQL query with the SQL API:

```bash
CREATE TABLE {table_name}
 (
 {column1} {data type},
 {column2} {data type},
 {column3} {data type},
 ...
 );
```

While this begins the process of creating the structure for the table, it is still not visible in your dashboard. Run the following request to make the table visible.

```bash
SELECT cdb_cartodbfytable({table_name});
```

**Tip:** If you belong to an organization, you must also include the username as part of the request.

```bash
SELECT cdb_cartodbfytable({username}, {table_name});
```
You will get an `Please set user quota before cartodbfying tables` error if you don't include the username as part of the request.

The table is created and added as a connected dataset in _Your datasets_ dashboard. Refresh your browser to ensure that you can visualize it in your account. Once a table is connected to _Your datasets_ dashboard in CARTO, any modifications that you apply to your data through the SQL API are automatically updated.

### Rename Tables

To rename a connected dataset in _Your datasets_ dashboard, run the following SQL query with the SQL API:

```bash
ALTER TABLE {table_name} RENAME to {renamed table_name};
```

It may take a few seconds for the connected table to appear renamed. Refresh your browser to ensure that you can visualize the changes in _Your datasets_ dashboard.

### Remove a Table

If you remove a table, **any maps using the connected dataset will be affected**. The deleted dataset cannot be recovered. Even if you create a new table with the same name as a removed table, CARTO still internalizes it as a different table.

Some users and third-party libraries update the data from a map dataset making a _DROP TABLE_ + _CREATE TABLE_ + _INSERT_ in the table. Doing that, your map will be affected unless you make the _DROP TABLE_ + _CREATE TABLE_ **inside a transaction**. But our recommendation is to use _TRUNCATE TABLE_ + _INSERT_.

To remove a connected dataset from _Your datasets_ dashboard, run the following SQL query with the SQL API:

```bash
DROP TABLE {table_name};
```

This removes the connected table from _Your datasets_ dashboard. Refresh your browser to ensure that the connected dataset was removed.