psql

psql [options] [dbname]

psql is the official interactive terminal for PostgreSQL. It provides a command-line interface for connecting to databases, executing SQL queries, and managing database objects. In interactive mode, it offers features like tab completion, command history, and formatted output for query results.Beyond interactive use, psql can execute SQL files with -f and run individual commands with -c, making it suitable for scripting and automation. Built-in backslash commands (like \dt for tables, \d for describing objects, and \l for listing databases) provide quick access to database metadata without writing SQL.Connection parameters can be specified via command-line flags, environment variables (PGHOST, PGUSER, PGDATABASE, PGPORT), or the ~/.pgpass file for password-free authentication.

DBNAME

Database name.

Server hostname.

Port number.

Username.

Database name.

Execute command.

Execute file.

List databases.

~/.pgpass

Password file for automatic authentication, containing lines in the format `hostname:port:database:username:password`.

Startup file executed when psql launches, used to set formatting options, custom prompts, and default settings.

Environment variables for default connection parameters.

PostgreSQL specific. Requires server connection.

psql is the official PostgreSQL command-line client.

pg_dump(1), createdb(1), mysql(1)