# USE

The USE statement specifies a namespace and / or a database to use for the subsequent SurrealQL statements when switching between namespaces and databases.

The `USE` statement specifies a namespace and / or a database to use for the subsequent SurrealQL statements when switching between namespaces and databases. If you have a single namespace and database, you can define them in the [sql command](/docs/reference/cli/surrealdb-cli/commands/sql.md#example-usage).

Ensure that your database and namespace exist and you have [started your database](/docs/reference/cli/surrealdb-cli/commands/start.md) before using the Sql command option.

### Statement syntax

**SurrealQL Syntax**

```syntax title="SurrealQL Syntax"
USE [ NS @ns ] [ DB @db ];
```

## Example usage

The following query shows example usage of this statement if you have multiple namespaces and databases.

```surql
USE NS test; -- Switch to the 'main' Namespace
```

```surql
USE DB test; -- Switch to the 'main' Database
```

```surql
USE NS test DB test; -- Switch to the 'main' Namespace and 'main' Database
```

You can also use the [INFO Statement](/docs/reference/query-language/statements/info.md) to check the current namespace and database.

```surql
INFO FOR NS; -- Check the current Namespace
```

```surql
INFO FOR DB; -- Check the current Database
```

## `USE` statement behaviour when resource does not exist

_(since v3.0.0)_

The behaviour of the `USE` statement differs depending on which mode the database server is run in.

When run in regular mode, a `USE` statement will create the namespace or database indicated if it does not already exist.

```surql
USE NS ns; -- Output: NONE (success)
(INFO FOR ROOT).namespaces; -- Output: { ns: 'DEFINE NAMESPACE ns' }
```

In [strict mode](/docs/reference/cli/surrealdb-cli/commands/start.md#strict-mode), a resource will not be created unless it is already defined. In this case, the `USE` statement will return an error.

```surql
USE NS ns; -- Output: "The namespace 'ns' does not exist"
DEFINE NS ns;
USE NS ns; -- Now defined, no error
```

## Value returned by `USE` statement

_(since v3.0.0)_

Before SurrealDB 3.0.0, the output of a `USE` statement was `NONE`. Since then, each `USE` statement returns an object containing the current namespace and database.

```surql
USE NS main;
```

```surql title="Output"
{ database: 'main', namespace: 'main' }
```