# DROP ROLE statement

The DROP ROLE statement removes the specified SQL role.

A role is created by a CREATE ROLE statement.

Only the database owner can drop a role.

For more information on roles, see "Using SQL roles" in the Derby Security Guide.

## Syntax

    DROP ROLE roleName

Dropping a role has the effect of removing the role from the database dictionary. This means that no session user can henceforth set that role (see SET ROLE statement), and any existing sessions that have that role as the current role (see CURRENT_ROLE function) will now have a NULL CURRENT_ROLE. Dropping a role also has the effect of revoking that role from any user and role it has been granted to. See REVOKE statement for information on how revoking a role may impact any dependent objects.

## Example

    DROP ROLE reader;

Parent topic: DROP statements
Related reference
DROP DERBY AGGREGATE statement
DROP FUNCTION statement
DROP INDEX statement
DROP PROCEDURE statement
DROP SCHEMA statement
DROP SEQUENCE statement
DROP SYNONYM statement
DROP TABLE statement
DROP TRIGGER statement
DROP TYPE statement
DROP VIEW statement
CREATE ROLE statement
SET ROLE statement
CURRENT_ROLE function
SYSROLES system table