Check if Table Exists in SQLite using Python

Last Updated : 3 Aug, 2026

To check whether a table exists in an SQLite database, Python can query the sqlite_master table using the sqlite3 module. The query searches for a table with the specified name and returns a result if the table exists. SQLite stores information about database objects such as tables in the sqlite_master table.

We can query this table using the table name to determine whether a specific table exists.

SELECT name
FROM sqlite_master
WHERE type = 'table' AND name = 'STUDENT';

If the query returns a row, the table exists. If no row is returned, the table does not exist.

Example: In this example, we connect to an SQLite database, create three tables, and then check whether the STUDENT and TEACHER tables exist.

Python 
import sqlite3
con = sqlite3.connect("school.db")
cur = con.cursor()

cur.execute("""
    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS EMPLOYEE (
        id INTEGER,
        name TEXT,
        age INTEGER
    )
""")

cur.execute("""
    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS STUDENT (
        id INTEGER,
        name TEXT,
        age INTEGER
    )
""")

cur.execute("""
    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS STAFF (
        id INTEGER,
        name TEXT
    )
""")

def table_exists(name):
    result = cur.execute(
        """
        SELECT name
        FROM sqlite_master
        WHERE type = 'table' AND name = ?
        """,
        (name,)
    ).fetchone()

    return result is not None

print("STUDENT:", table_exists("STUDENT"))
print("TEACHER:", table_exists("TEACHER"))
con.close()

Output

STUDENT: True
TEACHER: False

Explanation:

  • sqlite3.connect("school.db") connects to the SQLite database.
  • cur.execute() creates the required tables.
  • table_exists() searches sqlite_master for the specified table.
  • fetchone() returns a row when the table exists and None when it does not.
  • The ? placeholder passes the table name as a query parameter.
  • con.close() closes the database connection.

Using IF NOT EXISTS

The IF NOT EXISTS clause prevents an error when a table is already present in the database. It allows the same CREATE TABLE statement to be executed without trying to recreate an existing table.

Python 
cur.execute("""
    CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS STUDENT (
        id INTEGER,
        name TEXT,
        age INTEGER
    )
""")

Explanation:

  • IF NOT EXISTS checks whether the table already exists.
  • The table is created only when it is not already present.

Checking Multiple Tables

The same function can be used to check several table names.

Python 
tables = ["STUDENT", "EMPLOYEE", "TEACHER"]

for table in tables:
    if table_exists(table):
        print(f"{table} exists")
    else:
        print(f"{table} does not exist")

Output

STUDENT exists
EMPLOYEE exists
TEACHER does not exist

Explanation:

  • tables contains the names to check.
  • table_exists(table) checks each name against sqlite_master.
  • The result is printed according to whether the table is present.
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