What are managed tables?

Whats the difference between managed and external table?

The main difference between a managed and external table is that when you drop an external table, the underlying data files stay intact. This is because the user is expected to manage the data files and directories. With a managed table, the underlying directories and data get wiped out when the table is dropped.

How do you know if a table is managed table or external table?

Managed or external tables can be identified using the DESCRIBE FORMATTED table_name command, which will display either MANAGED_TABLE or EXTERNAL_TABLE depending on table type.

What happens when a managed table is dropped?

Dropping a managed table in Hive deletes the metadata as well as the data from HDFS. Why? - Quora. Dropping a managed table in Hive deletes the metadata as well as the data from HDFS.

When use managed and external table in Hive?

Use managed tables when Hive should manage the lifecycle of the table, or when generating temporary tables. Use external tables when files are already present or in remote locations, and the files should remain even if the table is dropped.