# DROP INDEX
DROP INDEX removes an index
`DROP INDEX` removes an index from Materialize.

## Syntax

```mzsql
DROP INDEX [IF EXISTS] <index_name> [CASCADE|RESTRICT];
```

Syntax element | Description
---------------|------------
**IF EXISTS** | Optional. If specified, do not return an error if the specified index does not exist.
`<index_name>` | Index to drop.
**CASCADE** | Optional. If specified, remove the index and its dependent objects.
**RESTRICT** | Optional. Remove the index. _(Default.)_

> **Note:** Since indexes do not have dependent objects, `DROP INDEX`, `DROP INDEX
> RESTRICT`, and `DROP INDEX CASCADE` are equivalent.


## Privileges

To execute the `DROP INDEX` statement, you need:

- Ownership of the dropped index.
- `USAGE` privileges on the containing schema.

## Examples

### Remove an index

> **Tip:** In the **Materialize Console**, you can view existing indexes in the [**Database
> object explorer**](/console/data/). Alternatively, you can use the
> [`SHOW INDEXES`](/sql/show-indexes) command.


Using the  `DROP INDEX` commands, the following example drops an index named `q01_geo_idx`.

```mzsql
DROP INDEX q01_geo_idx;
```

If the index `q01_geo_idx` does not exist, the above operation returns an error.

### Remove an index without erroring if the index does not exist

You can specify the `IF EXISTS` option so that the `DROP INDEX` command does
not return an error if the index to drop does not exist.

```mzsql
DROP INDEX IF EXISTS q01_geo_idx;
```

## Related pages

- [`CREATE INDEX`](/sql/create-index)
- [`SHOW VIEWS`](/sql/show-views)
- [`SHOW INDEXES`](/sql/show-indexes)
- [`DROP OWNED`](/sql/drop-owned)