• Reference
  • Version · 4.33
  • Reference guide

rollback-sql

Last updated: August 21, 2026

The rollback-sql tag is a helper command that produces the raw SQL Liquibase would run when using the rollback command.

Uses

The rollback-sql command is typically used to inspect the SQL Liquibase uses to revert changes associated with a tag you specify when you run the rollback command. It is best practice to use the rollback-sql command before running the rollback command to ensure that you eliminate any potential risks.

When you run rollback-sql, check whether you specified the correct tag and whether any changesets were rolled back. (If you specify a tag that Liquibase cannot find in your changelog, the rollback command halts.)

Syntax

To run the rollback-sql command, specify the driver, classpath, and URL in the Liquibase properties file. You can also specify these properties in your command line.

Then run the rollback-sql command:

liquibase rollback-sql --tag=myTag --changelog-file=example-changelog.xml

Note: The --tag=myTag syntax was added in Liquibase 4.4. If you use an older version, specify your tag as a positional argument: <command> myTag.

* Liquibase checks nested changelogs for definitions of the changesets to rollback.

Note: The username and password attributes are not required for connections and systems which use alternate means of authentication. Also, you can specify database credentials as part of the url attribute.

Parameters

Global parameters

Attributes

Definition

Requirement

--output-file=<string>

File path to where the command output will be written. If not specified, output goes to STDOUT. See --output-file.

Optional

Command parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

--changelog-file=<string>

The root changelog

Required

--tag=<string>

The tag identifies which tagged changesets in the changelog to evaluate. Specify as --tag=myTag. Positional format <command> <tag> deprecated in 4.4+.

Required

--url=<string>

The JDBC database connection URL.

Required

--change-exec-listener-class=<string>

Fully-qualified class which specifies a ChangeExecListener.

Optional

--change-exec-listener-properties-file=<string>

Path to a properties file for the ChangeExecListener class.

Optional

--context-filter=<string>

Specifies the changeset contexts to match. Contexts are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets are executed in any particular migration run.

Note: If you use Liquibase 4.23.0 or earlier, use the syntax --contexts instead of --context-filter.

Optional

--default-catalog-name=<string>

Name of the default catalog to use for the database connection

Optional

--default-schema-name=<string>

Name of the default schema to use for the database connection. If defaultSchemaName is set, then objects do not have to be fully qualified. This means you can refer to just mytable instead of myschema.mytable.

Note: In the properties file and JAVA_OPTS only: in 4.18.0 and earlier, specify this parameter using the syntax defaultSchemaName. In 4.19.0 and later, use the syntax liquibase.command.defaultSchemaName.

Note: In Liquibase 4.12.0 and later, you can use mixed-case schema names if you set --preserve-schema-case to true. However, in Liquibase 4.12.0–4.22.0, the Liquibase validator still throws a DatabaseException error if you specify a mixed-case value of defaultSchemaName. In 4.23.0 and later, the Liquibase validator accepts any casing.

Optional

--driver=<string>

The JDBC driver class

Optional

--driver-properties-file=<string>

The JDBC driver properties file

Optional

--label-filter=<string>

Specifies the changeset labels to match. Labels are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets will be executed in any migration run.

Optional

--output-default-catalog=<true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default catalog are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default catalog are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

--output-default-schema=<true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default schema are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default schema are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

--password=<string>

Password to connect to the target database.

Optional

--rollback-script=<string>

The path to the script to use to perform the rollback. Only needed if the rollback is not already defined in the changelog, and if it is not a rollback statement that is automatically generated by Liquibase.

Optional

--tag-version=<string>

Tag version to use for multiple occurrences of a tag. Valid values are NEWEST and OLDEST. If set to NEWEST, Liquibase rolls back changes up to the most recent instance of the tag. Any older instances of the tag remain in the DATABASECHANGELOG table. If set to OLDEST, Liquibase rolls back changes up to the first instance of the tag. Default: OLDEST

Optional

--username=<string>

Username to connect to the target database.

Optional

Global parameters

Attributes

Definition

Requirement

globalArgs: { output-file: "<string>" }

File path to where the command output will be written. If not specified, output goes to STDOUT. See --output-file.

Optional

Command parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

cmdArgs: { changelog-file: "<string>" }

The root changelog

Required

cmdArgs: { tag: "<string>" }

The tag identifying which tagged changesets in the changelog to evaluate. Specify as --tag=myTag. Positional format <command> <tag> deprecated in 4.4+.

Required

cmdArgs: { url: "<string>" }

The JDBC database connection URL.

Required

cmdArgs: { change-exec-listener-class: "<string>" }

Fully-qualified class which specifies a ChangeExecListener.

Optional

cmdArgs: { change-exec-listener-properties-file: "<string>" }

Path to a properties file for the ChangeExecListener class.

Optional

cmdArgs: { context-filter: "<string>" }

Specifies the changeset contexts to match. Contexts are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets are executed in any particular migration run.

Note: If you use Liquibase 4.23.0 or earlier, use the syntax --contexts instead of --context-filter.

Optional

cmdArgs: { default-catalog-name: "<string>" }

Name of the default catalog to use for the database connection

Optional

cmdArgs: { default-schema-name: "<string>" }

Name of the default schema to use for the database connection. If defaultSchemaName is set, then objects do not have to be fully qualified. This means you can refer to just mytable instead of myschema.mytable.

Note: In the properties file and JAVA_OPTS only: in 4.18.0 and earlier, specify this parameter using the syntax defaultSchemaName. In 4.19.0 and later, use the syntax liquibase.command.defaultSchemaName.

Note: In Liquibase 4.12.0 and later, you can use mixed-case schema names if you set --preserve-schema-case to true. However, in Liquibase 4.12.0–4.22.0, the Liquibase validator still throws a DatabaseException error if you specify a mixed-case value of defaultSchemaName. In 4.23.0 and later, the Liquibase validator accepts any casing.

Optional

cmdArgs: { driver: "<string>" }

The JDBC driver class

Optional

cmdArgs: { driver-properties-file: "<string>" }

The JDBC driver properties file

Optional

cmdArgs: { label-filter: "<string>" }

Specifies the changeset labels to match. Labels are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets will be executed in any migration run.

Optional

cmdArgs: { output-default-catalog: "<true|false>" }

Control whether names of objects in the default catalog are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default catalog are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

cmdArgs: { output-default-schema: "<true|false>" }

Control whether names of objects in the default schema are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default schema are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

cmdArgs: { password: "<string>" }

Password to connect to the target database.

Optional

cmdArgs: { rollback-script: "<string>" }

The path to the script to use to perform the rollback. Only needed if the rollback is not already defined in the changelog, and if it is not a rollback statement that is automatically generated by Liquibase.

Optional

cmdArgs: { tag-version: "<string>" }

Tag version to use for multiple occurrences of a tag. Valid values are NEWEST and OLDEST. If set to NEWEST, Liquibase rolls back changes up to the most recent instance of the tag. Any older instances of the tag remain in the DATABASECHANGELOG table. If set to OLDEST, Liquibase rolls back changes up to the first instance of the tag. Default: OLDEST

Optional

cmdArgs: { username: "<string>" }

Username to connect to the target database.

Optional

Global parameters

Attributes

Definition

Requirement

liquibase.outputFile: <string>

File path to where the command output will be written. If not specified, output goes to STDOUT. See --output-file.

Optional

Command parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

liquibase.command.changelogFile: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.changelogFile: <string>

The root changelog

Required

liquibase.command.tag: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.tag: <string>

The tag identifying which tagged changesets in the changelog to evaluate. Specify as --tag=myTag. Positional format <command> <tag> deprecated in 4.4+.

Required

liquibase.command.url: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.url: <string>

The JDBC database connection URL.

Required

liquibase.command.changeExecListenerClass: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.changeExecListenerClass: <string>

Fully-qualified class which specifies a ChangeExecListener.

Optional

liquibase.command.changeExecListenerPropertiesFile: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.changeExecListenerPropertiesFile: <string>

Path to a properties file for the ChangeExecListener class.

Optional

liquibase.command.contextFilter: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.contextFilter: <string>

Specifies the changeset contexts to match. Contexts are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets are executed in any particular migration run.

Note: If you use Liquibase 4.23.0 or earlier, use the syntax --contexts instead of --context-filter.

Optional

liquibase.command.defaultCatalogName: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.defaultCatalogName: <string>

Name of the default catalog to use for the database connection

Optional

liquibase.command.defaultSchemaName: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.defaultSchemaName: <string>

Name of the default schema to use for the database connection. If defaultSchemaName is set, then objects do not have to be fully qualified. This means you can refer to just mytable instead of myschema.mytable.

Note: In the properties file and JAVA_OPTS only: in 4.18.0 and earlier, specify this parameter using the syntax defaultSchemaName. In 4.19.0 and later, use the syntax liquibase.command.defaultSchemaName.

Note: In Liquibase 4.12.0 and later, you can use mixed-case schema names if you set --preserve-schema-case to true. However, in Liquibase 4.12.0–4.22.0, the Liquibase validator still throws a DatabaseException error if you specify a mixed-case value of defaultSchemaName. In 4.23.0 and later, the Liquibase validator accepts any casing.

Optional

liquibase.command.driver: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.driver: <string>

The JDBC driver class

Optional

liquibase.command.driverPropertiesFile: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.driverPropertiesFile: <string>

The JDBC driver properties file

Optional

liquibase.command.labelFilter: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.labelFilter: <string>

Specifies the changeset labels to match. Labels are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets will be executed in any migration run.

Optional

liquibase.command.outputDefaultCatalog: <true|false>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.outputDefaultCatalog: <true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default catalog are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default catalog are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

liquibase.command.outputDefaultSchema: <true|false>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.outputDefaultSchema: <true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default schema are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default schema are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

liquibase.command.password: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.password: <string>

Password to connect to the target database.

Optional

liquibase.command.rollbackScript: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.rollbackScript: <string>

The path to the script to use to perform the rollback. Only needed if the rollback is not already defined in the changelog, and if it is not a rollback statement that is automatically generated by Liquibase.

Optional

liquibase.command.tagVersion: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.tagVersion: <string>

Tag version to use for multiple occurrences of a tag. Valid values are NEWEST and OLDEST. If set to NEWEST, Liquibase rolls back changes up to the most recent instance of the tag. Any older instances of the tag remain in the DATABASECHANGELOG table. If set to OLDEST, Liquibase rolls back changes up to the first instance of the tag. Default: OLDEST

Optional

liquibase.command.username: <string>

liquibase.command.rollbackSql.username: <string>

Username to connect to the target database.

Optional

Global parameters

Attributes

Definition

Requirement

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.outputFile=<string>

File path to where the command output will be written. If not specified, output goes to STDOUT. See --output-file.

Optional

Command parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.changelogFile=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.changelogFile=<string>

The root changelog

Required

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.tag=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.tag=<string>

The tag identifying which tagged changesets in the changelog to evaluate. Specify as --tag=myTag. Positional format <command> <tag> deprecated in 4.4+.

Required

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.url=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.url=<string>

The JDBC database connection URL.

Required

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.changeExecListenerClass=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.changeExecListenerClass=<string>

Fully-qualified class which specifies a ChangeExecListener.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.changeExecListenerPropertiesFile=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.changeExecListenerPropertiesFile=<string>

Path to a properties file for the ChangeExecListener class.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.contextFilter=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.contextFilter=<string>

Specifies the changeset contexts to match. Contexts are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets are executed in any particular migration run.

Note: If you use Liquibase 4.23.0 or earlier, use the syntax --contexts instead of --context-filter.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.defaultCatalogName=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.defaultCatalogName=<string>

Name of the default catalog to use for the database connection

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.defaultSchemaName=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.defaultSchemaName=<string>

Name of the default schema to use for the database connection. If defaultSchemaName is set, then objects do not have to be fully qualified. This means you can refer to just mytable instead of myschema.mytable.

Note: In the properties file and JAVA_OPTS only: in 4.18.0 and earlier, specify this parameter using the syntax defaultSchemaName. In 4.19.0 and later, use the syntax liquibase.command.defaultSchemaName.

Note: In Liquibase 4.12.0 and later, you can use mixed-case schema names if you set --preserve-schema-case to true. However, in Liquibase 4.12.0–4.22.0, the Liquibase validator still throws a DatabaseException error if you specify a mixed-case value of defaultSchemaName. In 4.23.0 and later, the Liquibase validator accepts any casing.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.driver=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.driver=<string>

The JDBC driver class

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.driverPropertiesFile=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.driverPropertiesFile=<string>

The JDBC driver properties file

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.labelFilter=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.labelFilter=<string>

Specifies the changeset labels to match. Labels are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets will be executed in any migration run.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.outputDefaultCatalog=<true|false>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.outputDefaultCatalog=<true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default catalog are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default catalog are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.outputDefaultSchema=<true|false>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.outputDefaultSchema=<true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default schema are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default schema are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.password=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.password=<string>

Password to connect to the target database.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackScript=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.rollbackScript=<string>

The path to the script to use to perform the rollback. Only needed if the rollback is not already defined in the changelog, and if it is not a rollback statement that is automatically generated by Liquibase.

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.tagVersion=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.tagVersion=<string>

Tag version to use for multiple occurrences of a tag. Valid values are NEWEST and OLDEST. If set to NEWEST, Liquibase rolls back changes up to the most recent instance of the tag. Any older instances of the tag remain in the DATABASECHANGELOG table. If set to OLDEST, Liquibase rolls back changes up to the first instance of the tag. Default: OLDEST

Optional

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.username=<string>

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.command.rollbackSql.username=<string>

Username to connect to the target database.

Optional

Global parameters

Attributes

Definition

Requirement

LIQUIBASE_OUTPUT_FILE=<string>

File path to where the command output will be written. If not specified, output goes to STDOUT. See --output-file.

Optional

Command parameters

Attribute

Definition

Requirement

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_CHANGELOG_FILE=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_CHANGELOG_FILE=<string>

The root changelog

Required

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_TAG=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_TAG=<string>

The tag identifying which tagged changesets in the changelog to evaluate. Specify as --tag=myTag. Positional format <command> <tag> deprecated in 4.4+.

Required

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_URL=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_URL=<string>

The JDBC database connection URL.

Required

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_CHANGE_EXEC_LISTENER_CLASS=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_CHANGE_EXEC_LISTENER_CLASS=<string>

Fully-qualified class which specifies a ChangeExecListener.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_CHANGE_EXEC_LISTENER_PROPERTIES_FILE=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_CHANGE_EXEC_LISTENER_PROPERTIES_FILE=<string>

Path to a properties file for the ChangeExecListener class.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_CONTEXT_FILTER=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_CONTEXT_FILTER=<string>

Specifies the changeset contexts to match. Contexts are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets are executed in any particular migration run.

Note: If you use Liquibase 4.23.0 or earlier, use the syntax --contexts instead of --context-filter.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_DEFAULT_CATALOG_NAME=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_DEFAULT_CATALOG_NAME=<string>

Name of the default catalog to use for the database connection

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_DEFAULT_SCHEMA_NAME=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_DEFAULT_SCHEMA_NAME=<string>

Name of the default schema to use for the database connection. If defaultSchemaName is set, then objects do not have to be fully qualified. This means you can refer to just mytable instead of myschema.mytable.

Note: In the properties file and JAVA_OPTS only: in 4.18.0 and earlier, specify this parameter using the syntax defaultSchemaName. In 4.19.0 and later, use the syntax liquibase.command.defaultSchemaName.

Note: In Liquibase 4.12.0 and later, you can use mixed-case schema names if you set --preserve-schema-case to true. However, in Liquibase 4.12.0–4.22.0, the Liquibase validator still throws a DatabaseException error if you specify a mixed-case value of defaultSchemaName. In 4.23.0 and later, the Liquibase validator accepts any casing.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_DRIVER=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_DRIVER=<string>

The JDBC driver class

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_DRIVER_PROPERTIES_FILE=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_DRIVER_PROPERTIES_FILE=<string>

The JDBC driver properties file

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_LABEL_FILTER=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_LABEL_FILTER=<string>

Specifies the changeset labels to match. Labels are tags you can add to changesets to control which changesets will be executed in any migration run.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_OUTPUT_DEFAULT_CATALOG=<true|false>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_OUTPUT_DEFAULT_CATALOG=<true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default catalog are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default catalog are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_OUTPUT_DEFAULT_SCHEMA=<true|false>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_OUTPUT_DEFAULT_SCHEMA=<true|false>

Control whether names of objects in the default schema are fully qualified or not. If true, they are. If false, only objects outside the default schema are fully qualified. Default: true.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_PASSWORD=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_PASSWORD=<string>

Password to connect to the target database.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SCRIPT=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_ROLLBACK_SCRIPT=<string>

The path to the script to use to perform the rollback. Only needed if the rollback is not already defined in the changelog, and if it is not a rollback statement that is automatically generated by Liquibase.

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_TAG_VERSION=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_TAG_VERSION=<string>

Tag version to use for multiple occurrences of a tag. Valid values are NEWEST and OLDEST. If set to NEWEST, Liquibase rolls back changes up to the most recent instance of the tag. Any older instances of the tag remain in the DATABASECHANGELOG table. If set to OLDEST, Liquibase rolls back changes up to the first instance of the tag. Default: OLDEST

Optional

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_USERNAME=<string>

LIQUIBASE_COMMAND_ROLLBACK_SQL_USERNAME=<string>

Username to connect to the target database.

Optional

Output

Liquibase Version: 4.9.1 Liquibase Community 4.9.1 by Liquibase -- ********************************************************************* --rollback to 'version1' Script -- ********************************************************************* -- Change Log: example-changelog.sql -- Ran at: 5/10/22, 11:31 AM -- Against: DBUSER@jdbc:h2:tcp://localhost:9090/mem:dev -- Liquibase version: 4.9.1 -- ********************************************************************* -- Lock Database UPDATE PUBLIC.DATABASECHANGELOGLOCK SET LOCKED = TRUE, LOCKEDBY = 'DESKTOP-SQVSSV2 (192.168.1.179)', LOCKGRANTED = NOW() WHERE ID = 1 AND LOCKED = FALSE; -- Release Database Lock UPDATE PUBLIC.DATABASECHANGELOGLOCK SET LOCKED = FALSE, LOCKEDBY = NULL, LOCKGRANTED = NULL WHERE ID = 1; Liquibase command 'rollback-sql' was executed successfully.

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