DROP EXTERNAL LIBRARY (Transact-SQL)

Applies to: SQL Server 2017 (14.x) and later Azure SQL Managed Instance

Deletes an existing package library. Package libraries are used by supported external runtimes, such as R, Python, or Java.

Note

In SQL Server 2017, R language and Windows platform are supported. R, Python, and Java on the Windows and Linux platforms are supported in SQL Server 2019 and later.

Syntax

DROP EXTERNAL LIBRARY library_name
[ AUTHORIZATION owner_name ];

Arguments

library_name

Specifies the name of an existing package library.

Libraries are scoped to the user. Library names must be unique within the context of a specific user or owner.

owner_name

Specifies the name of the user or role that owns the external library.

Database owners can delete libraries created by other users.

Permissions

To delete a library requires the privilege ALTER ANY EXTERNAL LIBRARY. By default, any database owner, or the owner of the object, can also delete an external library.

Return values

An informational message is returned if the statement was successful.

Remarks

Unlike other DROP statements in SQL Server, this statement supports specifying an optional authorization clause. This allows dbo or users in the db_owner role to drop a package library uploaded by a regular user in the database.

A number of packages, referred to as system packages, are pre-installed in a SQL instance. System packages cannot be added, updated, or removed by the user.

Examples

Add the custom R package, customPackage, to a database:

CREATE EXTERNAL LIBRARY customPackage 
FROM (CONTENT = 'C:\temp\customPackage_v1.1.zip')
WITH (LANGUAGE = 'R');
GO

Delete the customPackage library.

DROP EXTERNAL LIBRARY customPackage;

See also

CREATE EXTERNAL LIBRARY (Transact-SQL)
ALTER EXTERNAL LIBRARY (Transact-SQL)
sys.external_library_files
sys.external_libraries