Postgresql: how to create table only if it does not already exist?

create or replace function update_the_db() returns void as
$$
begin

    if not exists(select * from information_schema.tables 
        where 
            table_catalog = CURRENT_CATALOG and table_schema = CURRENT_SCHEMA
            and table_name = 'your_table_name_here') then

        create table your_table_name_here
        (
            the_id int not null,
            name text
        );

    end if;

end;
$$
language 'plpgsql';

select update_the_db();
drop function update_the_db();

Just create the table and don't worry about whether it exists. If it doesn't exist it will be created; if it does exist the table won't be modified. You can always check the return value of your SQL query to see whether the table existed or not when you executed the create statement.

I think to check the pg_class table perhaps help you, something like that:

SELECT COUNT (relname) as a FROM pg_class WHERE relname = 'mytable'

if a = 0 then (CREATE IT)

Regards.