PostgreSQL Shortcut Commands
PostgreSQL provides a powerful command-line tool called `psql` to manage and interact with your databases. This page outlines essential `psql` shortcut commands to help you efficiently manage databases, roles, schemas, and objects.
General Shortcuts
| Command | Description |
| \? | Lists all `psql` commands and their descriptions. |
| \q | Exits the `psql` client. |
| \c [dbname] | Connects to a specific database. |
| \conninfo | Displays connection details of the current session. |
| \encoding | Shows or sets the client character encoding. |
| \! [command] | Executes a shell command. |
| \pwd | Displays the current working directory. |
Database Management
| Command | Description |
| \l | Lists all databases. |
| \l+ | Lists all databases with additional details (size, owner, etc.). |
| \g | Executes the previous SQL command. |
| \i [file] | Executes SQL commands from a file. |
| \watch [interval] | Re-runs the last query at specified intervals (seconds). |
Schemas and Objects
| Command | Description |
| \dn | Lists all schemas in the current database. |
| \dn+ | Lists schemas with additional details. |
| \dt | Lists all tables in the current schema. |
| \dt+ | Lists tables with additional details (e.g., size, storage). |
| \dv | Lists all views in the current schema. |
| \dv+ | Lists views with additional details. |
| \ds | Lists all sequences in the current schema. |
| \ds+ | Lists sequences with additional details. |
| \df | Lists all functions in the current schema. |
| \df+ | Lists functions with argument and return type details. |
| \db | Lists all tablespaces in the database cluster. |
| \db+ | Lists tablespaces with more details. |
Object Descriptions
| Command | Description |
| \d [object] | Describes a specific object (table, view, etc.). |
| \d+ [object] | Provides detailed information about an object. |
| \d | General object listing in the current schema. |
| \z | Lists access privileges for all objects. |
| \dp | Lists access privileges for tables, views, and sequences. |
Role and User Management
| Command | Description |
| \du | Lists all roles (users) in the database cluster. |
| \du+ | Lists roles with additional details. |
Query Output
| Command | Description |
| \x | Toggles expanded output mode (vertical format). |
| \o [file] | Redirects query output to a file. |
| \o | Resets output redirection to display in the terminal. |
| \t | Toggles display of table headings and row counts. |
| \a | Toggles between aligned and unaligned output. |
| \pset | Sets output formatting options (e.g., border, null values). |
| \timing | Toggles query execution time display. |
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