# DROP_ACCESS_METHOD - remove an access method - man(7) - [phpMan]

_DROP_ _ACCESS_ [_METHOD_(7)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/METHOD/7/markdown)              PostgreSQL 16.14 Documentation              _DROP_ _ACCESS_ [_METHOD_(7)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/METHOD/7/markdown)

## NAME
       DROP_ACCESS_METHOD - remove an access method

## SYNOPSIS
       DROP ACCESS METHOD [ IF EXISTS ] _name_ [ CASCADE | RESTRICT ]

## DESCRIPTION
       **DROP ACCESS METHOD **removes an existing access method. Only superusers can drop access
       methods.

## PARAMETERS
       IF EXISTS
           Do not throw an error if the access method does not exist. A notice is issued in this
           case.

       _name_
           The name of an existing access method.

       CASCADE
           Automatically drop objects that depend on the access method (such as operator classes,
           operator families, and indexes), and in turn all objects that depend on those objects
           (see Section 5.14).

       RESTRICT
           Refuse to drop the access method if any objects depend on it. This is the default.

## EXAMPLES
       Drop the access method heptree:

           DROP ACCESS METHOD heptree;

## COMPATIBILITY
       **DROP ACCESS METHOD **is a PostgreSQL extension.

## SEE ALSO
       CREATE ACCESS METHOD ([**CREATE_ACCESS_METHOD**(7)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/CREATEACCESSMETHOD/7/markdown))

PostgreSQL 16.14                                2026                           _DROP_ _ACCESS_ [_METHOD_(7)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/METHOD/7/markdown)