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Description

This error indicates that MariaDB was unable to create a new table as requested. It typically occurs during schema changes, application deployments, or when manually executing `CREATE TABLE` statements. The specific reason for the failure is often detailed by the `errno` code appended to the message.

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Error Message

Can't create table '%s' (errno: %d)

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Known Causes

4 known causes

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Insufficient User Privileges

The MariaDB user attempting to create the table lacks the necessary `CREATE` privilege for the specified database or schema.

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Out of Disk Space

The server's storage device where the MariaDB data directory resides has run out of available disk space, preventing new file creation.

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Invalid Table Definition

The `CREATE TABLE` statement contains syntax errors, invalid column types, or violates database constraints (e.g., foreign key issues, duplicate column names).

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File System or Directory Issues

Problems with the underlying operating system's file system, such as incorrect directory permissions for the MariaDB data directory, or a read-only file system.

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Solutions

4 solutions available

1. Fix Foreign Key Constraint Issues medium

Most common cause - resolve FK reference problems

1

Check the detailed error message

SHOW ENGINE INNODB STATUS;

2

Verify referenced table and column exist

SHOW CREATE TABLE parent_table_name;

3

Ensure column types match exactly

-- Parent and child FK columns must have identical types
-- Example: both must be INT UNSIGNED, not INT vs INT UNSIGNED
CREATE TABLE child (
    id INT PRIMARY KEY,
    parent_id INT UNSIGNED,  -- Must match parent.id type exactly
    FOREIGN KEY (parent_id) REFERENCES parent(id)
);

4

Check that referenced column has an index

SHOW INDEX FROM parent_table_name;

2. Grant CREATE Privilege easy

Ensure user has permission to create tables

1

Check current user privileges

SHOW GRANTS FOR CURRENT_USER();

2

Grant CREATE privilege

GRANT CREATE ON database_name.* TO 'username'@'host';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

3

For all schema modification privileges

GRANT CREATE, ALTER, DROP, INDEX ON database_name.* TO 'username'@'host';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

3. Free Disk Space easy

Ensure sufficient storage for new table files

1

Check disk space

df -h /var/lib/mysql

2

Find largest tables to potentially archive

SELECT table_schema, table_name,
       ROUND(data_length/1024/1024, 2) AS data_mb,
       ROUND(index_length/1024/1024, 2) AS index_mb
FROM information_schema.tables
ORDER BY data_length DESC
LIMIT 20;

3

Optimize tables to reclaim space

OPTIMIZE TABLE database_name.large_table_name;

4. Fix Table Definition Errors medium

Correct syntax and constraint issues in CREATE TABLE

1

Check for duplicate column names

-- Wrong: duplicate column
CREATE TABLE test (id INT, id INT);

-- Correct: unique column names
CREATE TABLE test (id INT, user_id INT);

2

Verify storage engine is available

SHOW ENGINES;

3

Check for row size limits (InnoDB max ~8KB per row)

-- If you have many VARCHAR columns, consider using TEXT
-- or enable innodb_file_format=Barracuda with ROW_FORMAT=DYNAMIC

4

Validate charset and collation compatibility

SHOW CHARACTER SET;
SHOW COLLATION WHERE Charset = 'utf8mb4';

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Related Errors

5 related errors

MariaDB Error 1005: Table Creation Failure