CURRENT_CATALOG

Return the name of the catalog (top-level database) bound to the current session.

Syntax

CURRENT_CATALOG()

Description

## Overview Returns the name of the current catalog for the session. DeltaForge uses a three-part name hierarchy (catalog.schema.table), and the catalog is the top level of that hierarchy. Use this function to emit fully qualified identifiers, to filter metadata views to the active catalog, or to include context in audit columns. CURRENT_DATABASE is a synonym. ## Session context - The value is the catalog name that the session is currently using, as set at connection time or by a subsequent `USE CATALOG` statement. - Takes no arguments; both `CURRENT_CATALOG` and `CURRENT_CATALOG()` are accepted. - Never returns NULL. ## Behavior - Always returns a non-NULL string. - Deterministic for the duration of the current catalog binding. - Side effect free. ## Compatibility - Matches the SQL-standard CURRENT_CATALOG.

Examples

-- Read the active catalog
SELECT CURRENT_CATALOG();

-- Include catalog context in diagnostic output
SELECT CURRENT_CATALOG() AS catalog,
       CURRENT_SCHEMA() AS schema_name,
       CURRENT_USER()   AS user_name;

-- Restrict information_schema browsing to the current catalog
SELECT table_name
FROM information_schema.tables
WHERE table_catalog = CURRENT_CATALOG();

-- Build a fully qualified name at query time
SELECT CURRENT_CATALOG() || '.' || CURRENT_SCHEMA() || '.events' AS fqn;

Pitfalls

• CURRENT_CATALOG reflects the current binding, not the catalog referenced in a specific query. A query that explicitly names `other_catalog.schema.table` reads from `other_catalog` even though CURRENT_CATALOG returns the default.
• Switching catalogs mid-session changes the return value. Persisted metadata that was captured at earlier points may no longer match the current value.
• The returned name respects the catalog's declared case. Comparisons should be case-sensitive unless your catalog policy says otherwise.
• CURRENT_CATALOG is not guaranteed to be equal to CURRENT_DATABASE on every engine; on DeltaForge they are synonyms, but cross-engine SQL should pick one consistently.

See Also

• current_database
• current_schema
• current_user
• version