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PostgreSQL Commands and Syntax: A Comprehensive Reference

This guide provides a complete reference of common PostgreSQL commands and their syntax. Learn how to effectively manage and interact with your PostgreSQL database using these essential commands. #PostgreSQL #SQL #Commands #Syntax #Database #PostgreSQLCommands

PostgreSQL Commands and Syntax

This section provides a comprehensive reference of common PostgreSQL commands and their syntax. PostgreSQL is a powerful, open-source relational database management system. Understanding these commands is essential for effectively managing and interacting with your PostgreSQL database.

Accessing Command Syntax Help

You can view the syntax for any PostgreSQL command using the `\help` command in the `psql` command-line tool. For example, `\help CREATE TABLE` will display the syntax and options for creating tables.

PostgreSQL Command Reference

Below is a list of some common PostgreSQL commands and their basic syntax. Note that these are simplified representations; consult the official PostgreSQL documentation for complete details and options.

Command Syntax (Simplified)
ABORT ABORT [ WORK | TRANSACTION ]
ALTER AGGREGATE ALTER AGGREGATE name ( type ) { RENAME TO new_name | OWNER TO new_owner }
ALTER CONVERSION ALTER CONVERSION name { RENAME TO new_name | OWNER TO new_owner }
ALTER DATABASE ALTER DATABASE name { SET parameter { TO | = } { value | DEFAULT } | RESET parameter | RENAME TO new_name | OWNER TO new_owner }
ALTER DOMAIN ALTER DOMAIN name { SET DEFAULT expression | DROP DEFAULT | SET | DROP NOT NULL | ADD domain_constraint | DROP CONSTRAINT constraint_name }
ALTER FUNCTION ALTER FUNCTION name ( [ type [, ...] ] ) { RENAME TO new_name | OWNER TO new_owner }
ALTER GROUP ALTER GROUP groupname { ADD USER username [, ... ] | DROP USER username [, ... ] | RENAME TO new_name }
ALTER INDEX ALTER INDEX name { OWNER TO new_owner | SET TABLESPACE indexspace_name | RENAME TO new_name }
ALTER LANGUAGE ALTER LANGUAGE name RENAME TO new_name
ALTER OPERATOR ALTER OPERATOR name ( { lefttype | NONE } , { righttype | NONE } ) OWNER TO new_owner
ALTER OPERATOR CLASS ALTER OPERATOR CLASS name USING index_method { RENAME TO new_name | OWNER TO new_owner }
ALTER SCHEMA ALTER SCHEMA name { RENAME TO new_name | OWNER TO new_owner }
ALTER SEQUENCE ALTER SEQUENCE name { INCREMENT [ BY ] increment | MINVALUE minvalue | NO MINVALUE | MAXVALUE maxvalue | NO MAXVALUE | RESTART [ WITH ] start | CACHE cache | CYCLE | NO CYCLE }
ALTER TABLE ALTER TABLE [ ONLY ] name { action [, ... ] | RENAME [ COLUMN ] column TO new_column | RENAME TO new_name }
ALTER TABLESPACE ALTER TABLESPACE name { RENAME TO new_name | OWNER TO new_owner }
ALTER TRIGGER ALTER TRIGGER name ON table RENAME TO new_name
ALTER TYPE ALTER TYPE name OWNER TO new_owner
ALTER USER ALTER USER name { RENAME TO new_name | SET parameter { TO | = } { value | DEFAULT } | RESET parameter }
ANALYZE ANALYZE [ VERBOSE ] [ table [ (column [, ...] ) ] ]
BEGIN BEGIN [ WORK | TRANSACTION ] [ transaction_mode [, ...] ]
CHECKPOINT CHECKPOINT
CLOSE CLOSE name
CLUSTER CLUSTER index_name ON table_name
COMMIT COMMIT [ WORK | TRANSACTION ]
COPY COPY table_name [ ( column [, ...] ) ] { FROM | TO } { 'filename' | STDIN | STDOUT }
CREATE AGGREGATE CREATE AGGREGATE name ( BASETYPE = input_data_type, SFUNC = sfunc, STYPE = state_data_type [ , FINALFUNC = ffunc ] [ , INITCOND = initial_condition ] )
CREATE CAST CREATE CAST (source_type AS target_type) { WITH FUNCTION func_name (arg_types) | WITHOUT FUNCTION }
CREATE CONSTRAINT TRIGGER CREATE CONSTRAINT TRIGGER name AFTER events ON table_name constraint attributes FOR EACH ROW EXECUTE PROCEDURE func_name ( args )
CREATE CONVERSION CREATE [DEFAULT] CONVERSION name FOR source_encoding TO dest_encoding FROM func_name
CREATE DATABASE CREATE DATABASE name [ [ WITH ] options ]
CREATE DOMAIN CREATE DOMAIN name [AS] data_type [ DEFAULT expression ] [ constraint [ ... ] ]
CREATE FUNCTION CREATE [ OR REPLACE ] FUNCTION name ( [ [ arg_name ] arg_type [, ...] ] ) RETURNS ret_type ...
CREATE GROUP CREATE GROUP name [ [ WITH ] option [ ... ] ]
CREATE INDEX CREATE [ UNIQUE ] INDEX name ON table [ USING method ] ( { column | ( expression ) } [ opclass ] [, ...] ) [ TABLESPACE tablespace ] [ WHERE predicate ]
CREATE LANGUAGE CREATE [ TRUSTED ] [ PROCEDURAL ] LANGUAGE name HANDLER call_handler [ VALIDATOR val_function ]
CREATE OPERATOR CREATE OPERATOR name ( PROCEDURE = func_name [, options ] )
CREATE OPERATOR CLASS CREATE OPERATOR CLASS name [ DEFAULT ] FOR TYPE data_type USING index_method AS { OPERATOR | FUNCTION | STORAGE } [, ... ]
CREATE RULE CREATE [ OR REPLACE ] RULE name AS ON event TO table [ WHERE condition ] DO [ ALSO | INSTEAD ] { NOTHING | command | ( command ; command ... ) }
CREATE SCHEMA CREATE SCHEMA schema_name [ AUTHORIZATION username ] [ schema_element [ ... ] ]
CREATE SEQUENCE CREATE [ TEMPORARY | TEMP ] SEQUENCE name [ options ]
CREATE TABLE CREATE [ TEMPORARY | TEMP ] TABLE table_name ( column_definition [, ... ] )
CREATE TABLE AS CREATE TABLE table_name [ (column_name [, ...] ) ] AS query
CREATE TABLESPACE CREATE TABLESPACE tablespace_name [ OWNER username ] LOCATION 'directory'
CREATE TRIGGER CREATE TRIGGER name { BEFORE | AFTER } events ON table ...
CREATE TYPE CREATE TYPE name AS ( attribute_name data_type [, ... ] ) | CREATE TYPE name ( options )