PostgreSQL, Second Edition

Connecting to a Database

Assuming that you have a copy of PostgreSQL up and running, it's pretty simple to connect to the database. Here is an example:

$ psql -d movies
Welcome to psql, the PostgreSQL interactive terminal.
Type:  \copyright for distribution terms
       \h for help with SQL commands
       \? for help on internal slash commands
       \g or terminate with semicolon to execute query
       \q to quit

movies=# \q

The psql program is a text-based interface to a PostgreSQL database. When you are running psql, you won't see a graphical application—no buttons or pictures or other bells and whistles, just a text-based interface. Later, I'll show you another client application that does provide a graphical interface (pgaccess).

psql supports a large collection ...