describe-table¶

Description¶

Returns information about the table, including the current status of the table, when it was created, the primary key schema, and any indexes on the table.

Note

If you issue a DescribeTable request immediately after a CreateTable request, DynamoDB might return a ResourceNotFoundException . This is because DescribeTable uses an eventually consistent query, and the metadata for your table might not be available at that moment. Wait for a few seconds, and then try the DescribeTable request again.

Synopsis¶

  describe-table
--table-name <value>
[--cli-input-json | --cli-input-yaml]
[--generate-cli-skeleton <value>]

Options¶

--table-name (string)

The name of the table to describe.

--cli-input-json | --cli-input-yaml (string) Reads arguments from the JSON string provided. The JSON string follows the format provided by --generate-cli-skeleton. If other arguments are provided on the command line, those values will override the JSON-provided values. It is not possible to pass arbitrary binary values using a JSON-provided value as the string will be taken literally. This may not be specified along with --cli-input-yaml.

--generate-cli-skeleton (string) Prints a JSON skeleton to standard output without sending an API request. If provided with no value or the value input, prints a sample input JSON that can be used as an argument for --cli-input-json. Similarly, if provided yaml-input it will print a sample input YAML that can be used with --cli-input-yaml. If provided with the value output, it validates the command inputs and returns a sample output JSON for that command.

See ‘aws help’ for descriptions of global parameters.

Examples¶

To describe a table

The following describe-table example describes the MusicCollection table.

aws dynamodb describe-table \
    --table-name MusicCollection

Output:

{
    "Table": {
        "AttributeDefinitions": [
            {
                "AttributeName": "Artist",
                "AttributeType": "S"
            },
            {
                "AttributeName": "SongTitle",
                "AttributeType": "S"
            }
        ],
        "ProvisionedThroughput": {
            "NumberOfDecreasesToday": 0,
            "WriteCapacityUnits": 5,
            "ReadCapacityUnits": 5
        },
        "TableSizeBytes": 0,
        "TableName": "MusicCollection",
        "TableStatus": "ACTIVE",
        "KeySchema": [
            {
                "KeyType": "HASH",
                "AttributeName": "Artist"
            },
            {
                "KeyType": "RANGE",
                "AttributeName": "SongTitle"
            }
        ],
        "ItemCount": 0,
        "CreationDateTime": 1421866952.062
    }
}

For more information, see Describing a Table in the Amazon DynamoDB Developer Guide.

Output¶

Table -> (structure)

The properties of the table.

AttributeDefinitions -> (list)

An array of AttributeDefinition objects. Each of these objects describes one attribute in the table and index key schema.

Each AttributeDefinition object in this array is composed of:

AttributeName - The name of the attribute.

AttributeType - The data type for the attribute.

(structure)

Represents an attribute for describing the key schema for the table and indexes.

AttributeName -> (string)

A name for the attribute.

AttributeType -> (string)

The data type for the attribute, where:

S - the attribute is of type String

N - the attribute is of type Number

B - the attribute is of type Binary

TableName -> (string)

The name of the table.

KeySchema -> (list)

The primary key structure for the table. Each KeySchemaElement consists of:

AttributeName - The name of the attribute.

KeyType - The role of the attribute:

HASH - partition key

RANGE - sort key

Note

The partition key of an item is also known as its hash attribute . The term “hash attribute” derives from DynamoDB’s usage of an internal hash function to evenly distribute data items across partitions, based on their partition key values.

The sort key of an item is also known as its range attribute . The term “range attribute” derives from the way DynamoDB stores items with the same partition key physically close together, in sorted order by the sort key value.

For more information about primary keys, see Primary Key in the Amazon DynamoDB Developer Guide .

(structure)

Represents a single element of a key schema. A key schema specifies the attributes that make up the primary key of a table, or the key attributes of an index.

A KeySchemaElement represents exactly one attribute of the primary key. For example, a simple primary key would be represented by one KeySchemaElement (for the partition key). A composite primary key would require one KeySchemaElement for the partition key, and another KeySchemaElement for the sort key.

A KeySchemaElement must be a scalar, top-level attribute (not a nested attribute). The data type must be one of String, Number, or Binary. The attribute cannot be nested within a List or a Map.

AttributeName -> (string)

The name of a key attribute.

KeyType -> (string)

The role that this key attribute will assume:

HASH - partition key

RANGE - sort key

Note

The partition key of an item is also known as its hash attribute . The term “hash attribute” derives from DynamoDB’s usage of an internal hash function to evenly distribute data items across partitions, based on their partition key values.

The sort key of an item is also known as its range attribute . The term “range attribute” derives from the way DynamoDB stores items with the same partition key physically close together, in sorted order by the sort key value.

TableStatus -> (string)

The current state of the table:

CREATING - The table is being created.

UPDATING - The table is being updated.

DELETING - The table is being deleted.

ACTIVE - The table is ready for use.

INACCESSIBLE_ENCRYPTION_CREDENTIALS - The AWS KMS key used to encrypt the table in inaccessible. Table operations may fail due to failure to use the AWS KMS key. DynamoDB will initiate the table archival process when a table’s AWS KMS key remains inaccessible for more than seven days.

ARCHIVING - The table is being archived. Operations are not allowed until archival is complete.

ARCHIVED - The table has been archived. See the ArchivalReason for more information.

CreationDateTime -> (timestamp)

The date and time when the table was created, in UNIX epoch time format.

ProvisionedThroughput -> (structure)

The provisioned throughput settings for the table, consisting of read and write capacity units, along with data about increases and decreases.

LastIncreaseDateTime -> (timestamp)

The date and time of the last provisioned throughput increase for this table.

LastDecreaseDateTime -> (timestamp)

The date and time of the last provisioned throughput decrease for this table.

NumberOfDecreasesToday -> (long)

The number of provisioned throughput decreases for this table during this UTC calendar day. For current maximums on provisioned throughput decreases, see Service, Account, and Table Quotas in the Amazon DynamoDB Developer Guide .

ReadCapacityUnits -> (long)

The maximum number of strongly consistent reads consumed per second before DynamoDB returns a ThrottlingException . Eventually consistent reads require less effort than strongly consistent reads, so a setting of 50 ReadCapacityUnits per second provides 100 eventually consistent ReadCapacityUnits per second.

WriteCapacityUnits -> (long)

The maximum number of writes consumed per second before DynamoDB returns a ThrottlingException .

TableSizeBytes -> (long)

The total size of the specified table, in bytes. DynamoDB updates this value approximately every six hours. Recent changes might not be reflected in this value.

ItemCount -> (long)

The number of items in the specified table. DynamoDB updates this value approximately every six hours. Recent changes might not be reflected in this value.

TableArn -> (string)

The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) that uniquely identifies the table.

TableId -> (string)

Unique identifier for the table for which the backup was created.

BillingModeSummary -> (structure)

Contains the details for the read/write capacity mode.

BillingMode -> (string)

Controls how you are charged for read and write throughput and how you manage capacity. This setting can be changed later.

PROVISIONED - Sets the read/write capacity mode to PROVISIONED . We recommend using PROVISIONED for predictable workloads.

PAY_PER_REQUEST - Sets the read/write capacity mode to PAY_PER_REQUEST . We recommend using PAY_PER_REQUEST for unpredictable workloads.

LastUpdateToPayPerRequestDateTime -> (timestamp)

Represents the time when PAY_PER_REQUEST was last set as the read/write capacity mode.

LocalSecondaryIndexes -> (list)

Represents one or more local secondary indexes on the table. Each index is scoped to a given partition key value. Tables with one or more local secondary indexes are subject to an item collection size limit, where the amount of data within a given item collection cannot exceed 10 GB. Each element is composed of:

IndexName - The name of the local secondary index.

KeySchema - Specifies the complete index key schema. The attribute names in the key schema must be between 1 and 255 characters (inclusive). The key schema must begin with the same partition key as the table.

Projection - Specifies attributes that are copied (projected) from the table into the index. These are in addition to the primary key attributes and index key attributes, which are automatically projected. Each attribute specification is composed of:

ProjectionType - One of the following:

KEYS_ONLY - Only the index and primary keys are projected into the index.

INCLUDE - Only the specified table attributes are projected into the index. The list of projected attributes is in NonKeyAttributes .

ALL - All of the table attributes are projected into the index.

NonKeyAttributes - A list of one or more non-key attribute names that are projected into the secondary index. The total count of attributes provided in NonKeyAttributes , summed across all of the secondary indexes, must not exceed 20. If you project the same attribute into two different indexes, this counts as two distinct attributes when determining the total.

IndexSizeBytes - Represents the total size of the index, in bytes. DynamoDB updates this value approximately every six hours. Recent changes might not be reflected in this value.

ItemCount - Represents the number of items in the index. DynamoDB updates this value approximately every six hours. Recent changes might not be reflected in this value.

If the table is in the DELETING state, no information about indexes will be returned.

(structure)

Represents the properties of a local secondary index.

IndexName -> (string)

Represents the name of the local secondary index.

KeySchema -> (list)

The complete key schema for the local secondary index, consisting of one or more pairs of attribute names and key types:

HASH - partition key

RANGE - sort key

Note

The partition key of an item is also known as its hash attribute . The term “hash attribute” derives from DynamoDB’s usage of an internal hash function to evenly distribute data items across partitions, based on their partition key values.

The sort key of an item is also known as its range attribute . The term “range attribute” derives from the way DynamoDB stores items with the same partition key physically close together, in sorted order by the sort key value.

(structure)

Represents a single element of a key schema. A key schema specifies the attributes that make up the primary key of a table, or the key attributes of an index.

A KeySchemaElement represents exactly one attribute of the primary key. For example, a simple primary key would be represented by one KeySchemaElement (for the partition key). A composite primary key would require one KeySchemaElement for the partition key, and another KeySchemaElement for the sort key.

A KeySchemaElement must be a scalar, top-level attribute (not a nested attribute). The data type must be one of String, Number, or Binary. The attribute cannot be nested within a List or a Map.

AttributeName -> (string)

The name of a key attribute.

KeyType -> (string)

The role that this key attribute will assume:

HASH - partition key

RANGE - sort key

Note

The partition key of an item is also known as its hash attribute . The term “hash attribute” derives from DynamoDB’s usage of an internal hash function to evenly distribute data items across partitions, based on their partition key values.

The sort key of an item is also known as its range attribute . The term “range attribute” derives from the way DynamoDB stores items with the same partition key physically close together, in sorted order by the sort key value.

Projection -> (structure)

Represents attributes that are copied (projected) from the table into the global secondary index. These are in addition to the primary key attributes and index key attributes, which are automatically projected.

ProjectionType -> (string)

The set of attributes that are projected into the index:

KEYS_ONLY - Only the index and primary keys are projected into the index.

INCLUDE - In addition to the attributes described in KEYS_ONLY , the secondary index will include other non-key attributes that you specify.

ALL - All of the table attributes are projected into the index.

NonKeyAttributes -> (list)

Represents the non-key attribute names which will be projected into the index.

For local secondary indexes, the total count of NonKeyAttributes summed across all of the local secondary indexes, must not exceed 20. If you project the same attribute into two different indexes, this counts as two distinct attributes when determining the total.

(string)

IndexSizeBytes -> (long)

The total size of the specified index, in bytes. DynamoDB updates this value approximately every six hours. Recent changes might not be reflected in this value.

ItemCount -> (long)

The number of items in the specified index. DynamoDB updates this value approximately every six hours. Recent changes might not be reflected in this value.

IndexArn -> (string)

The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) that uniquely identifies the index.

GlobalSecondaryIndexes -> (list)

The global secondary indexes, if any, on the table. Each index is scoped to a given partition key value. Each element is composed of:

Backfilling - If true, then the index is currently in the backfilling phase. Backfilling occurs only when a new global secondary index is added to the table. It is the process by which DynamoDB populates the new index with data from the table. (This attribute does not appear for indexes that were created during a CreateTable operation.) You can delete an index that is being created during the Backfilling phase when IndexStatus is set to CREATING and Backfilling is true. You can’t delete the index that is being created when IndexStatus is set to CREATING and Backfilling is false. (This attribute does not appear for indexes that were created during a CreateTable operation.)

IndexName - The name of the global secondary index.

IndexSizeBytes - The total size of the global secondary index, in bytes. DynamoDB updates this value approximately every six hours. Recent changes might not be reflected in this value.

IndexStatus - The current status of the global secondary index:

CREATING - The index is being created.

UPDATING - The index is being updated.

DELETING - The index is being deleted.

ACTIVE - The index is ready for use.

ItemCount - The number of items in the global secondary index. DynamoDB updates this value approximately every six hours. Recent changes might not be reflected in this value.

KeySchema - Specifies the complete index key schema. The attribute names in the key schema must be between 1 and 255 characters (inclusive). The key schema must begin with the same partition key as the table.

Projection - Specifies attributes that are copied (projected) from the table into the index. These are in addition to the primary key attributes and index key attributes, which are automatically projected. Each attribute specification is composed of:

ProjectionType - One of the following:

KEYS_ONLY - Only the index and primary keys are projected into the index.

INCLUDE - In addition to the attributes described in KEYS_ONLY , the secondary index will include other non-key attributes that you specify.

ALL - All of the table attributes are projected into the index.

NonKeyAttributes - A list of one or more non-key attribute names that are projected into the secondary index. The total count of attributes provided in NonKeyAttributes , summed across all of the secondary indexes, must not exceed 20. If you project the same attribute into two different indexes, this counts as two distinct attributes when determining the total.

ProvisionedThroughput - The provisioned throughput settings for the global secondary index, consisting of read and write capacity units, along with data about increases and decreases.

If the table is in the DELETING state, no information about indexes will be returned.

(structure)

Represents the properties of a global secondary index.

IndexName -> (string)

The name of the global secondary index.

KeySchema -> (list)

The complete key schema for a global secondary index, which consists of one or more pairs of attribute names and key types:

HASH - partition key

RANGE - sort key

Note

The partition key of an item is also known as its hash attribute . The term “hash attribute” derives from DynamoDB’s usage of an internal hash function to evenly distribute data items across partitions, based on their partition key values.

The sort key of an item is also known as its range attribute . The term “range attribute” derives from the way DynamoDB stores items with the same partition key physically close together, in sorted order by the sort key value.

(structure)

Represents a single element of a key schema. A key schema specifies the attributes that make up the primary key of a table, or the key attributes of an index.

A KeySchemaElement represents exactly one attribute of the primary key. For example, a simple primary key would be represented by one KeySchemaElement (for the partition key). A composite primary key would require one KeySchemaElement for the partition key, and another KeySchemaElement for the sort key.

A KeySchemaElement must be a scalar, top-level attribute (not a nested attribute). The data type must be one of String, Number, or Binary. The attribute cannot be nested within a List or a Map.

AttributeName -> (string)

The name of a key attribute.

KeyType -> (string)

The role that this key attribute will assume:

HASH - partition key

RANGE - sort key

Note

The partition key of an item is also known as its hash attribute . The term “hash attribute” derives from DynamoDB’s usage of an internal hash function to evenly distribute data items across partitions, based on their partition key values.

The sort key of an item is also known as its range attribute . The term “range attribute” derives from the way DynamoDB stores items with the same partition key physically close together, in sorted order by the sort key value.

Projection -> (structure)

Represents attributes that are copied (projected) from the table into the global secondary index. These are in addition to the primary key attributes and index key attributes, which are automatically projected.

ProjectionType -> (string)

The set of attributes that are projected into the index:

KEYS_ONLY - Only the index and primary keys are projected into the index.

INCLUDE - In addition to the attributes described in KEYS_ONLY , the secondary index will include other non-key attributes that you specify.

ALL - All of the table attributes are projected into the index.

NonKeyAttributes -> (list)

Represents the non-key attribute names which will be projected into the index.

For local secondary indexes, the total count of NonKeyAttributes summed across all of the local secondary indexes, must not exceed 20. If you project the same attribute into two different indexes, this counts as two distinct attributes when determining the total.

(string)

IndexStatus -> (string)

The current state of the global secondary index:

CREATING - The index is being created.

UPDATING - The index is being updated.

DELETING - The index is being deleted.

ACTIVE - The index is ready for use.

Backfilling -> (boolean)

Indicates whether the index is currently backfilling. Backfilling is the process of reading items from the table and determining whether they can be added to the index. (Not all items will qualify: For example, a partition key cannot have any duplicate values.) If an item can be added to the index, DynamoDB will do so. After all items have been processed, the backfilling operation is complete and Backfilling is false.

You can delete an index that is being created during the Backfilling phase when IndexStatus is set to CREATING and Backfilling is true. You can’t delete the index that is being created when IndexStatus is set to CREATING and Backfilling is false.

Note

For indexes that were created during a CreateTable operation, the Backfilling attribute does not appear in the DescribeTable output.

ProvisionedThroughput -> (structure)

Represents the provisioned throughput settings for the specified global secondary index.

For current minimum and maximum provisioned throughput values, see Service, Account, and Table Quotas in the Amazon DynamoDB Developer Guide .

LastIncreaseDateTime -> (timestamp)

The date and time of the last provisioned throughput increase for this table.

LastDecreaseDateTime -> (timestamp)

The date and time of the last provisioned throughput decrease for this table.

NumberOfDecreasesToday -> (long)

The number of provisioned throughput decreases for this table during this UTC calendar day. For current maximums on provisioned throughput decreases, see Service, Account, and Table Quotas in the Amazon DynamoDB Developer Guide .

ReadCapacityUnits -> (long)

The maximum number of strongly consistent reads consumed per second before DynamoDB returns a ThrottlingException . Eventually consistent reads require less effort than strongly consistent reads, so a setting of 50 ReadCapacityUnits per second provides 100 eventually consistent ReadCapacityUnits per second.

WriteCapacityUnits -> (long)

The maximum number of writes consumed per second before DynamoDB returns a ThrottlingException .

IndexSizeBytes -> (long)

The total size of the specified index, in bytes. DynamoDB updates this value approximately every six hours. Recent changes might not be reflected in this value.

ItemCount -> (long)

The number of items in the specified index. DynamoDB updates this value approximately every six hours. Recent changes might not be reflected in this value.

IndexArn -> (string)

The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) that uniquely identifies the index.

StreamSpecification -> (structure)

The current DynamoDB Streams configuration for the table.

StreamEnabled -> (boolean)

Indicates whether DynamoDB Streams is enabled (true) or disabled (false) on the table.

StreamViewType -> (string)

When an item in the table is modified, StreamViewType determines what information is written to the stream for this table. Valid values for StreamViewType are:

KEYS_ONLY - Only the key attributes of the modified item are written to the stream.

NEW_IMAGE - The entire item, as it appears after it was modified, is written to the stream.

OLD_IMAGE - The entire item, as it appeared before it was modified, is written to the stream.

NEW_AND_OLD_IMAGES - Both the new and the old item images of the item are written to the stream.

LatestStreamLabel -> (string)

A timestamp, in ISO 8601 format, for this stream.

Note that LatestStreamLabel is not a unique identifier for the stream, because it is possible that a stream from another table might have the same timestamp. However, the combination of the following three elements is guaranteed to be unique:

AWS customer ID

Table name

StreamLabel

LatestStreamArn -> (string)

The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) that uniquely identifies the latest stream for this table.

GlobalTableVersion -> (string)

Represents the version of global tables in use, if the table is replicated across AWS Regions.

Replicas -> (list)

Represents replicas of the table.

(structure)

Contains the details of the replica.

RegionName -> (string)

The name of the Region.

ReplicaStatus -> (string)

The current state of the replica:

CREATING - The replica is being created.

UPDATING - The replica is being updated.

DELETING - The replica is being deleted.

ACTIVE - The replica is ready for use.

REGION_DISABLED - The replica is inaccessible because the AWS Region has been disabled.

Note

If the AWS Region remains inaccessible for more than 20 hours, DynamoDB will remove this replica from the replication group. The replica will not be deleted and replication will stop from and to this region.

INACCESSIBLE_ENCRYPTION_CREDENTIALS - The AWS KMS key used to encrypt the table is inaccessible.

Note

If the AWS KMS key remains inaccessible for more than 20 hours, DynamoDB will remove this replica from the replication group. The replica will not be deleted and replication will stop from and to this region.

ReplicaStatusDescription -> (string)

Detailed information about the replica status.

ReplicaStatusPercentProgress -> (string)

Specifies the progress of a Create, Update, or Delete action on the replica as a percentage.

KMSMasterKeyId -> (string)

The AWS KMS customer master key (CMK) of the replica that will be used for AWS KMS encryption.

ProvisionedThroughputOverride -> (structure)

Replica-specific provisioned throughput. If not described, uses the source table’s provisioned throughput settings.

ReadCapacityUnits -> (long)

Replica-specific read capacity units. If not specified, uses the source table’s read capacity settings.

GlobalSecondaryIndexes -> (list)

Replica-specific global secondary index settings.

(structure)

Represents the properties of a replica global secondary index.

IndexName -> (string)

The name of the global secondary index.

ProvisionedThroughputOverride -> (structure)

If not described, uses the source table GSI’s read capacity settings.

ReadCapacityUnits -> (long)

Replica-specific read capacity units. If not specified, uses the source table’s read capacity settings.

ReplicaInaccessibleDateTime -> (timestamp)

The time at which the replica was first detected as inaccessible. To determine cause of inaccessibility check the ReplicaStatus property.

RestoreSummary -> (structure)

Contains details for the restore.

SourceBackupArn -> (string)

The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) of the backup from which the table was restored.

SourceTableArn -> (string)

The ARN of the source table of the backup that is being restored.

RestoreDateTime -> (timestamp)

Point in time or source backup time.

RestoreInProgress -> (boolean)

Indicates if a restore is in progress or not.

SSEDescription -> (structure)

The description of the server-side encryption status on the specified table.

Status -> (string)

Represents the current state of server-side encryption. The only supported values are:

ENABLED - Server-side encryption is enabled.

UPDATING - Server-side encryption is being updated.

SSEType -> (string)

Server-side encryption type. The only supported value is:

KMS - Server-side encryption that uses AWS Key Management Service. The key is stored in your account and is managed by AWS KMS (AWS KMS charges apply).

KMSMasterKeyArn -> (string)

The AWS KMS customer master key (CMK) ARN used for the AWS KMS encryption.

InaccessibleEncryptionDateTime -> (timestamp)

Indicates the time, in UNIX epoch date format, when DynamoDB detected that the table’s AWS KMS key was inaccessible. This attribute will automatically be cleared when DynamoDB detects that the table’s AWS KMS key is accessible again. DynamoDB will initiate the table archival process when table’s AWS KMS key remains inaccessible for more than seven days from this date.

ArchivalSummary -> (structure)

Contains information about the table archive.

ArchivalDateTime -> (timestamp)

The date and time when table archival was initiated by DynamoDB, in UNIX epoch time format.

ArchivalReason -> (string)

The reason DynamoDB archived the table. Currently, the only possible value is:

INACCESSIBLE_ENCRYPTION_CREDENTIALS - The table was archived due to the table’s AWS KMS key being inaccessible for more than seven days. An On-Demand backup was created at the archival time.

ArchivalBackupArn -> (string)

The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) of the backup the table was archived to, when applicable in the archival reason. If you wish to restore this backup to the same table name, you will need to delete the original table.

Table of Contents

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User Guide

describe-table¶

Description¶

Synopsis¶

Options¶

Examples¶

Output¶