> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://private-7c7dfe99-vortex-format.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> The Ordinary database engine is a deprecated legacy engine superseded by Atomic.

# Ordinary

The `Ordinary` database engine is the legacy database engine. It stores each table's metadata in a separate file and has been superseded by [`Atomic`](/reference/engines/database-engines/atomic).

<Warning>
  `Ordinary` is deprecated. Do not use it for new databases.
</Warning>

<h2 id="creating-a-database">
  Creating a database
</h2>

Creating an `Ordinary` database requires enabling [`allow_deprecated_database_ordinary`](/reference/settings/session-settings/allow-deprecated#allow_deprecated_database_ordinary):

```sql theme={null}
SET allow_deprecated_database_ordinary = 1;

CREATE DATABASE legacy
ENGINE = Ordinary;
```

<h2 id="migration">
  Migration
</h2>

Use `Atomic` for new databases. It is the default database engine in open-source ClickHouse and supports atomic metadata operations, including non-blocking `DROP TABLE` and `RENAME TABLE`.

<h2 id="see-also">
  See also
</h2>

* [Atomic database engine](/reference/engines/database-engines/atomic)
* [`allow_deprecated_database_ordinary`](/reference/settings/session-settings/allow-deprecated#allow_deprecated_database_ordinary)