--- title: influxdb3 update table description: The influxdb3 update table command updates an existing table. url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/update/table/ estimated_tokens: 1577 product: InfluxDB 3 Enterprise version: enterprise publisher: InfluxData canonical: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/update/table/ date: '2026-09-29T11:52:29-04:00' lastmod: '2026-09-29T11:52:29-04:00' --- The `influxdb3 update table` command updates an existing table in a database in your InfluxDB 3 Enterprise instance. Use this command to add tag and field columns to a table or update a table’s retention period . ## Usage ```bash influxdb3 update table [OPTIONS] --database ``` ## Arguments * **`TABLE_NAME`**: (Required) The name of the table to update ## Options |Option| | Description | |------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | `-H` | `--host` | Host URL of the running InfluxDB 3 Enterprise server (default is `http://127.0.0.1:8181`) | | `-d` | `--database` | The name of the database containing the table | | | `--token` | Authentication token | | `-r` |`--retention-period`| The retention period as a [duration](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/glossary/#duration) value (for example: `30d`, `24h`) or `none` to clear | | | `--tags` | Comma-separated list of tag columns to add to the table. Takes one or more values, so place the table name before it or follow it with another option | | `-f` | `--fields` |Comma-separated list of field columns and their [data types](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/create/table/#field-data-types) to add to the table| | | `--tls-ca` | Path to a custom TLS certificate authority (for testing or self-signed certificates) | | | `--tls-no-verify` | Disable TLS certificate verification (**Not recommended in production**, useful for self-signed certificates) | | `-h` | `--help` | Print help information | | | `--help-all` | Print detailed help information | > [!Important] > #### Add columns and update retention in separate commands > > `--tags` and `--fields` add columns to the table.`--retention-period` updates the table’s retention period. > These are separate operations against separate API endpoints, so > InfluxDB 3 Enterprise rejects a command that combines `--retention-period`with `--tags` or `--fields`. > Run them as separate commands. ### Option environment variables You can use the following environment variables instead of providing CLI options directly: | Environment Variable | Option | |-------------------------|-----------------| | `INFLUXDB3_HOST_URL` | `--host` | |`INFLUXDB3_DATABASE_NAME`| `--database` | | `INFLUXDB3_AUTH_TOKEN` | `--token` | | `INFLUXDB3_TLS_CA` | `--tls-ca` | |`INFLUXDB3_TLS_NO_VERIFY`|`--tls-no-verify`| ## Examples The following examples show how to update a table. In your commands replace the following: * `DATABASE_NAME`: Database name * `TABLE_NAME`: Table name * `AUTH_TOKEN`: Authentication token ### Add tag columns to a table Adds two tag columns to a table. This works whether the database uses implicit or explicit[schema mode](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/create/database/#schema-mode). ```bash influxdb3 update table \ --database DATABASE_NAME \ --token AUTH_TOKEN \ TABLE_NAME \ --tags rack,zone ``` ### Add field columns to a table Adds two field columns to a table. ```bash influxdb3 update table \ --database DATABASE_NAME \ --token AUTH_TOKEN \ --fields temp:float64,active:bool \ TABLE_NAME ``` ### Add tag and field columns in one command ```bash influxdb3 update table \ --database DATABASE_NAME \ --token AUTH_TOKEN \ --tags rack \ --fields temp:float64 \ TABLE_NAME ``` > [!Note] > Adding a column that already exists with the same data type is a no-op. > Adding a column that already exists with a different data type returns an error. ### Update a table retention period Updates a table retention period to 30 days. ```bash influxdb3 update table --database DATABASE_NAME --token AUTH_TOKEN --retention-period 30d TABLE_NAME ``` ### Clear a table retention period Removes the retention period from a table by setting it to `none`. ```bash influxdb3 update table --database DATABASE_NAME --retention-period none TABLE_NAME ``` | Option | | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | Option | | Description | | -H | --host | Host URL of the running InfluxDB 3 Enterprise server (default is http://127.0.0.1:8181 ) | | -d | --database | The name of the database containing the table | | | --token | Authentication token | | -r | --retention-period | The retention period as a duration value (for example: 30d , 24h ) or none to clear | | | --tags | Comma-separated list of tag columns to add to the table. Takes one or more values, so place the table name before it or follow it with another option | | -f | --fields | Comma-separated list of field columns and their data types to add to the table | | | --tls-ca | Path to a custom TLS certificate authority (for testing or self-signed certificates) | | | --tls-no-verify | Disable TLS certificate verification ( Not recommended in production , useful for self-signed certificates) | | -h | --help | Print help information | | | --help-all | Print detailed help information | | Environment Variable | Option | | --- | --- | | Environment Variable | Option | | INFLUXDB3_HOST_URL | --host | | INFLUXDB3_DATABASE_NAME | --database | | INFLUXDB3_AUTH_TOKEN | --token | | INFLUXDB3_TLS_CA | --tls-ca | | INFLUXDB3_TLS_NO_VERIFY | --tls-no-verify |