Practical PostgreSQL

Show

Displays the values of runtime variables.

Synopsis

SHOW name

Parameters

name

The name of a runtime variable.

Results

SHOW VARIABLE

The message returned after the SHOW command returns.

ERROR: Option 'name' is not recognized

The error returned if the variable specified (name) does not exist.

ERROR: permission denied

The error returned if you do not have the permissions necessary to view this information.

NOTICE: Time zone is unknown

The notice returned if you request to show the TIMEZONE variable when the TZ or PGTZ environment variable is not set.

Description

Use the SHOW command to display the current settings for a specified runtime variable. The variables in question are specified using the SET command or automatically determined during server startup.

Examples

The following example displays the current transaction isolation level:

booktown=# SHOW TRANSACTION ISOLATION LEVEL;
NOTICE:  TRANSACTION ISOLATION LEVEL is SERIALIZABLE
SHOW VARIABLE

The next example displays the current date formatting style:

booktown=# SHOW DATESTYLE;
NOTICE:  DateStyle is ISO with US (NonEuropean) conventions
SHOW VARIABLE