Create a keyspace

The first schema you should create with CQL is a keyspace.

Use the CREATE KEYSPACE command to create a keyspace.

Prerequisites

Determine the number of datacenters and replication strategy.
Determine the required replication factor.
Start cqlsh.

Keyspace and table name conventions

The name of a keyspace or a table is a string of alphanumeric characters and underscores, but it must begin with a letter. If case must be maintained, the name must be encased in double quotes, such as "MyTable".

Since tables are defined within a keyspace, you can either use the keyspace as part of the table creation command, or create a table in the current keyspace. To specify the keyspace as part of a table name, use the keyspace name, a period (.), and table name, such as cycling.cyclist-stats.

Create a simple keyspace

Start cqlsh and create a keyspace.

CREATE KEYSPACE IF NOT EXISTS cycling
WITH REPLICATION = {
  'class' : 'SimpleStrategy',
  'replication_factor' : 1
};

The keyspace name, replication class, and replication factor must all be specified.

Create an NTS keyspace

Start cqlsh and create a keyspace.
```
CREATE KEYSPACE cycling 
WITH REPLICATION = { 
  'class' : 'NetworkTopologyStrategy', 
  'dc1' : 1
};
```
The keyspace name, replication class, and replication factor must all be specified.