Rename a column in MySQL

Question

I am trying to rename a column in MySQL community server 5.5.27 using this SQL expression:

ALTER TABLE table_name RENAME COLUMN old_col_name TO new_col_name; 

I also tried

ALTER TABLE table_name RENAME old_col_name TO new_col_name; 

But it says:

Error: check the Manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version

Answer 1

Use the following query:

ALTER TABLE tableName CHANGE oldcolname newcolname datatype(length); 

The RENAME function is used in Oracle databases.

ALTER TABLE tableName RENAME COLUMN oldcolname TO newcolname datatype(length); 

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@lad2025 mentions it below, but I thought it'd be nice to add what he said. Thank you @lad2025!

You can use the RENAME COLUMN in MySQL 8.0 to rename any column you need renamed.

ALTER TABLE table_name RENAME COLUMN old_col_name TO new_col_name; 

ALTER TABLE Syntax: RENAME COLUMN:

• Can change a column name but not its definition.
• More convenient than CHANGE to rename a column without changing its definition.

Answer 2

In Server version: 5.6.34 MySQL Community Server

ALTER TABLE table_name CHANGE COLUMN old_column_name new_column_name data_type;