The database rejects a CREATE or ALTER statement because a stored procedure, function, trigger, or event with the same name already exists in the current schema.
MySQL Error 1304: ER_SP_ALREADY_EXISTS means the routine name you are creating already exists in the schema. Query INFORMATION_SCHEMA.ROUTINES, then DROP or RENAME the existing routine before rerunning your CREATE statement to resolve the conflict.
%s %s already exists
MySQL raises error 1304 with the message “%s %s already exists” when you run CREATE PROCEDURE, CREATE FUNCTION, CREATE TRIGGER, or CREATE EVENT using a name that is already present in the same database.
The server blocks the statement to protect the existing routine definition.
You cannot have two stored programs with identical names in one schema, even if their parameters differ.
Fixing the conflict quickly matters because duplicate routine names break deployments, migrations, and CI pipelines that expect idempotent scripts.
The most common trigger is executing a CREATE statement without first checking whether a routine of the same name exists.
Automated deployment scripts that run on every release hit this issue frequently.
The error also appears when developers mistype the database name, inadvertently creating the routine in a different schema than intended and leaving the old copy behind.
Locate the conflicting routine in INFORMATION_SCHEMA. Decide whether to drop, rename, or replace it.
For MySQL 8.0.13 and later, CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE offers a single-statement fix.
Always wrap destructive operations in IF EXISTS checks in production to avoid accidental data loss.
CI/CD pipelines often rerun the same migration script. Guard it with DROP PROCEDURE IF EXISTS to make it idempotent.
Developers restoring a dump on a test server may forget to drop routines first.
Use mysqldump’s --routines flag so your dump accurately reflects the current schema.
Adopt naming conventions that include module prefixes to reduce collisions. Version stored procedures by suffixing _v1, _v2 during migrations.
In Galaxy, endorse a single canonical version of each routine in a shared Collection. Teammates can reuse it rather than create duplicates.
Error 1305 ER_SP_DOES_NOT_EXIST arises when you call a routine that is missing.
Error 1235 ER_UNSUPPORTED_ACTION_ON_GENERATED_COLUMN occurs if you try to alter generated columns in routines. Their fixes differ but also involve schema checks.
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Use DROP PROCEDURE IF EXISTS or CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE (MySQL 8.0.13+) to ensure idempotent scripts.
No. MySQL does not support overloading by parameter list, so each routine name must be unique per schema.
Yes. Privileges granted specifically on the routine are lost when it is dropped and must be re-granted after recreation.
Galaxy’s shared Collections expose existing procedures, helping teams see and reuse approved routines instead of creating duplicates.
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