DEV Community

Cover image for How To Create a DynamoDB Table Using AWS CLI
Mohammad Abu Mattar
Mohammad Abu Mattar

Posted on

How To Create a DynamoDB Table Using AWS CLI

#aws #awscli #dynamodb

Introduction

In this article, we will learn how to create a DynamoDB table using AWS CLI. We will also learn how to add items to the table and how to query the table.

Prerequisites

To follow this article, you need to have the following:

  • AWS CLI
  • AWS Account
  • AWS IAM User with the following permissions:
    • AmazonDynamoDBFullAccess
  • AWS CLI configured with the IAM User

Create a DynamoDB Table

Step 1: Create a DynamoDB Table

To create a DynamoDB table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb create-table \
    --table-name MyTable \
    --attribute-definitions \
        AttributeName=Id,AttributeType=S \
    --key-schema \
        AttributeName=Id,KeyType=HASH \
    --provisioned-throughput \
        ReadCapacityUnits=1,WriteCapacityUnits=1
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --table-name: The name of the table to create.
  • --attribute-definitions: An array of attributes that describe the key schema for the table and indexes.
  • --key-schema: Specifies the attributes that make up the primary key for a table or an index.
  • --provisioned-throughput: The provisioned throughput settings for the table or index.

Step 2: List the Tables

To list the tables, run the following command:

aws dynamodb list-tables
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Step 3: Insert Items to the Table

Step 3.1: Insert an Item Using AWS CLI

To insert items to the table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb put-item \
    --table-name MyTable \
    --item \
        '{"Id": {"S": "1"}, "Name": {"S": "John Doe"}}'
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --item: A map of attribute name to attribute values, representing the primary key of the item to be retrieved.

Step 3.2: Insert Multiple Items Using AWS CLI

To insert multiple items to the table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb batch-write-item \
    --request-items \
        '{"MyTable": [{"PutRequest": {"Item": {"Id": {"S": "2"}, "Name": {"S": "Jane Doe"}}}}]}'
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --request-items: A map of one or more table names and, for each table, a list of operations to be performed (DeleteRequest or PutRequest).

Step 3.3: Insert Items From a JSON File Using AWS CLI

Create a JSON file with the following content:

# create a JSON file
touch items.json

# open the file
vim items.json
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode 
{
  "MyTable": [
    {
      "PutRequest": {
        "Item": {
          "Id": {
            "S": "3"
          },
          "Name": {
            "S": "John Doe"
          }
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "PutRequest": {
        "Item": {
          "Id": {
            "S": "4"
          },
          "Name": {
            "S": "Jane Doe"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

To insert items from a JSON file to the table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb batch-write-item \
    --request-items file://items.json
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --request-items: A map of one or more table names and, for each table, a list of operations to be performed (DeleteRequest or PutRequest).
  • file://items.json: The path to the JSON file.

Step 4: Query the Table

Step 4.1: Query the Table Using AWS CLI

To query the table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb query \
    --table-name MyTable \
    --key-condition-expression "Id = :id" \
    --expression-attribute-values  '{":id":{"S":"1"}}'
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --key-condition-expression: A condition that evaluates the query results and returns only the desired values.
  • --expression-attribute-values: One or more values that can be substituted in an expression.

Step 4.2: Query the Table Using AWS CLI and Output to a JSON File

To query the table and output the result to a JSON file, run the following command:

aws dynamodb query \
    --table-name MyTable \
    --key-condition-expression "Id = :id" \
    --expression-attribute-values  '{":id":{"S":"1"}}' \
    --output json > result.json
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --output: The output format of the query result.
  • > result.json: The path to the JSON file.

Step 5: Create a Global Secondary Index

Global Secondary is a secondary index with a partition key and a sort key that can be different from those on the table. You can query the index using the partition key and sort key, or you can query the index using only the partition key.

Step 5.1: Create a Global Secondary Index Using AWS CLI

To create a global secondary index, run the following command:

aws dynamodb update-table \
    --table-name MyTable \
    --attribute-definitions \
        AttributeName=Name,AttributeType=S \
    --global-secondary-index-updates \
        '[{"Create": {"IndexName": "NameIndex", "KeySchema": [{"AttributeName": "Name", "KeyType": "HASH"}], "Projection": {"ProjectionType": "ALL"}, "ProvisionedThroughput": {"ReadCapacityUnits": 1, "WriteCapacityUnits": 1}}}]'
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --attribute-definitions: An array of attributes that describe the key schema for the table and indexes.
  • --global-secondary-index-updates: An array of one or more global secondary indexes to be updated on the table.

Step 6: Remove the Global Secondary Index

Step 6.1: Remove the Global Secondary Index Using AWS CLI

To remove the global secondary index, run the following command:

aws dynamodb update-table \
    --table-name MyTable \
    --global-secondary-index-updates \
        '[{"Delete": {"IndexName": "NameIndex"}}]'
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --global-secondary-index-updates: An array of one or more global secondary indexes to be updated on the table.

Step 7: Create Two DynamoDB Tables With Relationships

Step 7.1: Create the First Table

To create the first table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb create-table \
    --table-name User \
    --attribute-definitions \
        AttributeName=Id,AttributeType=S \
    --key-schema \
        AttributeName=Id,KeyType=HASH \
    --provisioned-throughput \
        ReadCapacityUnits=1,WriteCapacityUnits=1
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --table-name: The name of the table to be created.
  • --attribute-definitions: An array of attributes that describe the key schema for the table and indexes.
  • --key-schema: Specifies the attributes that make up the primary key for a table or an index.
  • --provisioned-throughput: The provisioned throughput settings for the table or index.

Step 7.2: Create the Second Table

To create the second table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb create-table \
    --table-name Post \
    --attribute-definitions \
        AttributeName=Id,AttributeType=S \
        AttributeName=UserId,AttributeType=S \
    --key-schema \
        AttributeName=Id,KeyType=HASH \
    --global-secondary-indexes \
        '[{"IndexName": "UserIdIndex", "KeySchema": [{"AttributeName": "UserId", "KeyType": "HASH"}], "Projection": {"ProjectionType": "ALL"}, "ProvisionedThroughput": {"ReadCapacityUnits": 1, "WriteCapacityUnits": 1}}]' \
    --provisioned-throughput \
        ReadCapacityUnits=1,WriteCapacityUnits=1
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --table-name: The name of the table to be created.
  • --attribute-definitions: An array of attributes that describe the key schema for the table and indexes.
  • --key-schema: Specifies the attributes that make up the primary key for a table or an index.
  • --global-secondary-indexes: One or more global secondary indexes (the maximum is 20) to be created on the table.
  • --provisioned-throughput: The provisioned throughput settings for the table or index.

Step 7.3: Add Items to the First Table

To add items to the first table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb batch-write-item \
    --request-items \
        '{"User": [{"PutRequest": {"Item": {"Id": {"S": "1"}, "Name": {"S": "John Doe"}}}}]}'
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --request-items: A map of one or more table names and, for each table, a list of operations to be performed (DeleteRequest or PutRequest).

Step 7.4: Add Items to the Second Table

To add items to the second table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb batch-write-item \
    --request-items \
        '{"Post": [{"PutRequest": {"Item": {"Id": {"S": "1"}, "UserId": {"S": "1"}, "Title": {"S": "Hello World"}}}}]}'
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --request-items: A map of one or more table names and, for each table, a list of operations to be performed (DeleteRequest or PutRequest).

Step 7.5: Query the Second Table Using AWS CLI

To query the second table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb query \
    --table-name Post \
    --index-name UserIdIndex \
    --key-condition-expression "UserId = :userId" \
    --expression-attribute-values  '{":userId":{"S":"1"}}'
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --table-name: The name of the table containing the requested items.
  • --index-name: The name of a global secondary index to be queried.
  • --key-condition-expression: A condition that evaluates the query results and returns only the desired values.
  • --expression-attribute-values: One or more values that can be substituted in an expression.

Step 8: Create a DynamoDB Table With a Local Secondary Index

Step 8.1: Create the Table

To create the table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb create-table \
    --table-name MyTable \
    --attribute-definitions \
        AttributeName=Id,AttributeType=S \
        AttributeName=Name,AttributeType=S \
    --key-schema \
        AttributeName=Id,KeyType=HASH \
        AttributeName=Name,KeyType=RANGE \
    --local-secondary-indexes \
        '[{"IndexName": "NameIndex", "KeySchema": [{"AttributeName": "Id", "KeyType": "HASH"}, {"AttributeName": "Name", "KeyType": "RANGE"}], "Projection": {"ProjectionType": "ALL"}}]' \
    --provisioned-throughput \
        ReadCapacityUnits=1,WriteCapacityUnits=1
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --table-name: The name of the table to be created.
  • --attribute-definitions: An array of attributes that describe the key schema for the table and indexes.
  • --key-schema: Specifies the attributes that make up the primary key for a table or an index.
  • --local-secondary-indexes: One or more local secondary indexes (the maximum is 5) to be created on the table.
  • --provisioned-throughput: The provisioned throughput settings for the table or index.

Step 8.2: Add Items to the Table

To add items to the table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb batch-write-item \
    --request-items \
        '{"MyTable": [{"PutRequest": {"Item": {"Id": {"S": "1"}, "Name": {"S": "John Doe"}}}}]}'
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --request-items: A map of one or more table names and, for each table, a list of operations to be performed (DeleteRequest or PutRequest).

Step 8.3: Query the Table Using AWS CLI

To query the table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb query \
    --table-name MyTable \
    --index-name NameIndex \
    --key-condition-expression "Id = :id" \
    --expression-attribute-values  '{":id":{"S":"1"}}'
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explanation:

  • --table-name: The name of the table containing the requested items.
  • --index-name: The name of a local secondary index to be queried.
  • --key-condition-expression: A condition that evaluates the query results and returns only the desired values.
  • --expression-attribute-values: One or more values that can be substituted in an expression.

Step 9: Describe a DynamoDB Table Using AWS CLI

Describe is used to get information about a table, such as the table status, creation date, and primary key schema.

To describe a table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb describe-table \
    --table-name MyTable
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Step 10: Delete a DynamoDB Table Using AWS CLI

Delete is used to remove a table and all of its items.

To delete a table, run the following command:

aws dynamodb delete-table \
    --table-name MyTable
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to use the AWS CLI to create, query, and delete DynamoDB tables. You also learned how to use the AWS CLI to create, query, and delete DynamoDB tables with global and local secondary indexes.

References

Top comments (0)

Read next

fady_nabil10 profile image

Amazon Bedrock Flows: Now Generally Available with Enhanced Safety and Traceability

Fady Nabil -

suzuki0430 profile image

How to Protect ECS Containers with a Read-Only Root Filesystem

Atsushi Suzuki -

briansuarezsantiago profile image

Entendiendo el Shared Responsibility Model de AWS y por qué es clave para la seguridad en la nube

Brian -

hassan_sherwani_9dd766c43 profile image

Building Serverless Agentic Workflows with Amazon Bedrock

Hassan Sherwani -