# Tables

`tables` is every [`table()`](/docs/define/table) this schema compiles. The client name is the name you passed to `table()`.

The list order is the order of the emitted interfaces. The catalog is sorted by identity, so swapping two tables does not change the catalog hash. Calling `schema()` twice on the same tables returns equal catalog bytes.

| Field | Required | Default | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `tables` | yes | — | The list. A reference names one entry, earlier or later. |

### one

One table is a schema. The module default-exports it. [Config](/docs/define/config/schema) points `schema` at this file.

```ts title="schema.ts"
import { schema, table, t } from "okmodel/pg";

const notes = table("notes", {
  id: t.identity(),
  title: t.text(),
});

export default schema({ tables: [notes] }); // [!code focus]
```

### several

`.references("notes")` looks up `notes` in this list. `comments` is first here. `notes` is second. Either order resolves.

```ts title="several.ts"
import { schema, table, t } from "okmodel/pg";

const comments = table("comments", {
  id: t.identity(),
  noteId: t.bigint().references("notes"), // [!code focus]
  body: t.text(),
});

const notes = table("notes", {
  id: t.identity(),
  title: t.text(),
});

export default schema({ tables: [comments, notes] }); // [!code focus]
```

<Callout type="error" title="OKM1020">
A name that is not in the list is `Table posts is not in the schema.` The message lists the accepted names.
</Callout>

<Callout type="error" title="OKM1023">
The same name twice is `Table notes is declared more than once.` `note-items` and `note_items` both emit `NoteItems`, which is `Table note_items and note-items both emit NoteItems.` Two tables that store the same SQL name are `Table posts uses SQL name notes, which another table already uses.`
</Callout>

<Callout type="error" title="OKM1060">
A value that is not a list is `schema() needs a tables array.`
</Callout>

<Callout type="info" title="Empty">
An empty list is a schema with no tables.
</Callout>