Query with psql
The following instructions require a working installation of psql. The psql client is the native command-line client for Postgres. It provides an interactive session for sending commands to Postgres and running ad-hoc queries. For more information about psql, refer to the psql reference, in the PostgreSQL Documentation.
A SerenDB compute runs Postgres, which means that any Postgres application or standard utility such as `psql` is compatible with SerenDB. You can also use Postgres client libraries and drivers to connect. However, please be aware that some older client libraries and drivers, including older `psql` executables, are built without [Server Name Indication (SNI)](/docs/reference/glossary#sni) support and require a workaround. For more information, see [Connection errors](/docs/connect/connection-errors).
SerenDB also provides a passwordless auth feature that uses psql. For more information, see Passwordless auth.
How to install psql
If you don't have psql installed already, follow these steps to get set up:
<Tabs labels={["Mac (Intel x64)", "Mac (Apple Silicon)", "Linux", "Windows"]}>
```bash brew install libpq echo 'export PATH="/usr/local/opt/libpq/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc source ~/.zshrc ``` ```bash brew install libpq echo 'export PATH="/opt/homebrew/opt/libpq/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc source ~/.zshrc ``` ```bash sudo apt update sudo apt install postgresql-client ``` Download and install PostgreSQL from:
https://www.postgresql.org/download/windows/
Ensure psql is included in the installation.
Connect to SerenDB with psql
The easiest way to connect to SerenDB using psql is with a connection string.
You can obtain a connection string by clicking the Connect button on your Project Dashboard to open the Connect to your database modal. Select a branch, a role, and the database you want to connect to. A connection string is constructed for you.
From your terminal or command prompt, run the psql client with the connection string copied from the SerenDB Dashboard.
psql postgresql://[user]:[password]@[seren_hostname]/[dbname]SerenDB requires that all connections use SSL/TLS encryption, but you can increase the level of protection using the `sslmode` parameter setting in your connection string. For instructions, see [Connect to SerenDB securely](/docs/connect/connect-securely).
Where do I obtain a password?
You can obtain a SerenDB connection string by clicking the Connect button on your Project Dashboard to open the Connect to your database modal.
What port does SerenDB use?
SerenDB uses the default Postgres port, 5432. If you need to specify the port in your connection string, you can do so as follows:
psql postgresql://[user]:[password]@[seren_hostname][:port]/[dbname]Running queries
After establishing a connection, try running the following queries:
CREATE TABLE my_table AS SELECT now();
SELECT * FROM my_table;The following result set is returned:
SELECT 1
now
-------------------------------
2022-09-11 23:12:15.083565+00
(1 row)Meta-commands
The psql client supports a variety of meta-commands, which act like shortcuts for interacting with your database.
Benefits of Meta-Commands
Meta-commands can significantly speed up your workflow by providing quick access to database schemas and other critical information without needing to write full SQL queries. They are especially useful for database management tasks, making it easier to handle administrative duties directly from the SerenDB Console.
Available meta-commands
Here are some of the meta-commands that you can use with psql.
The SerenDB SQL Editor also supports meta-commands. See [Meta commands in the SerenDB SQL Editor](/docs/get-started/query-with-neon-sql-editor#meta-commands).
Informational
(options: S = show system objects, + = additional detail)
\d[S+] list tables, views, and sequences
\d[S+] NAME describe table, view, sequence, or index
\da[S] [PATTERN] list aggregates
\dA[+] [PATTERN] list access methods
\dAc[+] [AMPTRN [TYPEPTRN]] list operator classes
\dAf[+] [AMPTRN [TYPEPTRN]] list operator families
\dAo[+] [AMPTRN [OPFPTRN]] list operators of operator families
\dAp[+] [AMPTRN [OPFPTRN]] list support functions of operator families
\db[+] [PATTERN] list tablespaces
\dc[S+] [PATTERN] list conversions
\dconfig[+] [PATTERN] list configuration parameters
\dC[+] [PATTERN] list casts
\dd[S] [PATTERN] show object descriptions not displayed elsewhere
\dD[S+] [PATTERN] list domains
\ddp [PATTERN] list default privileges
\dE[S+] [PATTERN] list foreign tables
\des[+] [PATTERN] list foreign servers
\det[+] [PATTERN] list foreign tables
\deu[+] [PATTERN] list user mappings
\dew[+] [PATTERN] list foreign-data wrappers
\df[anptw][S+] [FUNCPTRN [TYPEPTRN ...]]
list [only agg/normal/procedure/trigger/window] functions
\dF[+] [PATTERN] list text search configurations
\dFd[+] [PATTERN] list text search dictionaries
\dFp[+] [PATTERN] list text search parsers
\dFt[+] [PATTERN] list text search templates
\dg[S+] [PATTERN] list roles
\di[S+] [PATTERN] list indexes
\dl[+] list large objects, same as \lo_list
\dL[S+] [PATTERN] list procedural languages
\dm[S+] [PATTERN] list materialized views
\dn[S+] [PATTERN] list schemas
\do[S+] [OPPTRN [TYPEPTRN [TYPEPTRN]]]
list operators
\dO[S+] [PATTERN] list collations
\dp[S] [PATTERN] list table, view, and sequence access privileges
\dP[itn+] [PATTERN] list [only index/table] partitioned relations [n=nested]
\drds [ROLEPTRN [DBPTRN]] list per-database role settings
\drg[S] [PATTERN] list role grants
\dRp[+] [PATTERN] list replication publications
\dRs[+] [PATTERN] list replication subscriptions
\ds[S+] [PATTERN] list sequences
\dt[S+] [PATTERN] list tables
\dT[S+] [PATTERN] list data types
\du[S+] [PATTERN] list roles
\dv[S+] [PATTERN] list views
\dx[+] [PATTERN] list extensions
\dX [PATTERN] list extended statistics
\dy[+] [PATTERN] list event triggers
\l[+] [PATTERN] list databases
\lo_list[+] list large objects
\sf[+] FUNCNAME show a function's definition
\sv[+] VIEWNAME show a view's definition
\z[S] [PATTERN] same as \dpFor more information about meta-commands, see psql Meta-Commands.
Running psql from the SerenDB CLI
If you have psql and the SerenDB CLI installed, you can run psql commands directly from the SerenDB CLI using the connection-string command with the --psql option.
neon connection-string --psql -- -c "SELECT version()"For more examples, see SerenDB CLI commands — connection-string.
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