diff --git a/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/Table.java b/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/Table.java
index bc7daafd73..9b4dc7f5b1 100644
--- a/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/Table.java
+++ b/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/Table.java
@@ -124,6 +124,11 @@ public interface Table<R extends Record> extends TableLike<R>, Named {
      */
     Schema getSchema();
 
+    /**
+     * Get the table type.
+     */
+    TableType getType();
+
     /**
      * The comment given to the table.
      * <p>
diff --git a/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/TableType.java b/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/TableType.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dca877d31f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/TableType.java
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *  http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ *
+ * Other licenses:
+ * -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ * Commercial licenses for this work are available. These replace the above
+ * ASL 2.0 and offer limited warranties, support, maintenance, and commercial
+ * database integrations.
+ *
+ * For more information, please visit: http://www.jooq.org/licenses
+ *
+ *
+ *
+ *
+ *
+ *
+ *
+ *
+ *
+ *
+ *
+ *
+ *
+ *
+ *
+ *
+ */
+package org.jooq;
+
+/**
+ * A description of the type of a {@link Table}.
+ *
+ * @author Lukas Eder
+ */
+public enum TableType {
+
+    /**
+     * An ordinary table that is stored in the schema.
+     */
+    TABLE,
+
+    /**
+     * A global temporary table that is stored in the schema and visible to
+     * everyone.
+     */
+    TEMPORARY,
+
+    /**
+     * A view that is defined by a {@link Select} statement.
+     */
+    VIEW,
+
+    /**
+     * A materialised view that is defined by a {@link Select} statement, and
+     * whose data is materialised in the schema.
+     */
+    MATERIALIZED_VIEW,
+
+    /**
+     * A table valued function that is defined by a {@link Routine}.
+     */
+    FUNCTION,
+
+    /**
+     * A table type that is unknown to jOOQ.
+     */
+    UNKNOWN
+}
diff --git a/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/impl/AbstractTable.java b/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/impl/AbstractTable.java
index 8c1e6b8670..aee5c4135b 100644
--- a/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/impl/AbstractTable.java
+++ b/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/impl/AbstractTable.java
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ import org.jooq.TableOnStep;
 import org.jooq.TableOptionalOnStep;
 import org.jooq.TableOuterJoinStep;
 import org.jooq.TablePartitionByStep;
+import org.jooq.TableType;
 import org.jooq.UniqueKey;
 // ...
 // ...
@@ -412,6 +413,11 @@ abstract class AbstractTable<R extends Record> extends AbstractNamed implements
     // XXX: Table API
     // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+    @Override
+    public final TableType getType() {
+        return TableType.UNKNOWN;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public final Catalog getCatalog() {
         return getSchema() == null ? null : getSchema().getCatalog();