---
title: "sys.schemas (Transact-SQL) | Microsoft Docs"
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ms.date: "03/15/2017"
ms.prod: sql
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  - "schemas_TSQL"
  - "sys.schemas_TSQL"
  - "schemas"
  - "sys.schemas"
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  - "sys.schemas catalog view"
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---
# Schemas Catalog Views - sys.schemas
[!INCLUDE[tsql-appliesto-ss2008-xxxx-asdw-pdw-md](../../includes/tsql-appliesto-ss2008-xxxx-asdw-pdw-md.md)]

  Contains a row for each database schema.  
  
> [!NOTE]  
>  Database schemas are different from XML schemas, which are used to define the content model of XML documents.  
  
|Column name|Data type|Description|  
|-----------------|---------------|-----------------|  
|**name**|**sysname**|Name of the schema. Is unique within the database.|  
|**schema_id**|**int**|ID of the schema. Is unique within the database.|  
|**principal_id**|**int**|ID of the principal that owns this schema.|  
  
## Remarks  
Database schemas act as namespaces or containers for objects, such as tables, views, procedures, and functions, that can be found in the **sys.objects** catalog view.  

Each schema has a an owner. The owner is a security [principal](../../relational-databases/security/authentication-access/principals-database-engine.md).
  
## Permissions  
 Requires membership in the **public** role. For more information, see [Metadata Visibility Configuration](../../relational-databases/security/metadata-visibility-configuration.md).  
  
## See Also  
[Principals](../../relational-databases/security/authentication-access/principals-database-engine.md)

[Catalog Views (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-catalog-views/catalog-views-transact-sql.md)   

[Schemas Catalog Views (Transact-SQL)](https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/c516fb1c-b6ed-48ae-99c7-a78bc4336c8e)   

[sys.objects (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-catalog-views/sys-objects-transact-sql.md)