postgresql select schema

How to select a schema in postgres when using psql?

stackoverflow.com › questions › 34098326 › how-to-select-a-schema-in-postgres-when-using-psql

In PostgreSQL the system determines which table is meant by following a search path, which is a list of schemas to look in.

The first matching table in the search path is taken to be the one wanted, otherwise, if there is no match a error is raised, even if matching table names exist in other schemas in the database.

To show the current search path you can use the following command:

SHOW search_path;

And to put the new schema in the path, you could use:

SET search_path TO myschema;

Or if you want multiple schemas:

SET search_path TO myschema, public;

Reference: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/static/ddl-schemas.html

Answer from Ciro Pedrini on Stack Overflow

Stack Overflow

stackoverflow.com › questions › 34098326 › how-to-select-a-schema-in-postgres-when-using-psql

postgresql - How to select a schema in postgres when using psql? - Stack Overflow

Top answer

1 of 11

442

In PostgreSQL the system determines which table is meant by following a search path, which is a list of schemas to look in.

The first matching table in the search path is taken to be the one wanted, otherwise, if there is no match a error is raised, even if matching table names exist in other schemas in the database.

To show the current search path you can use the following command:

SHOW search_path;

And to put the new schema in the path, you could use:

SET search_path TO myschema;

Or if you want multiple schemas:

SET search_path TO myschema, public;

Reference: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/static/ddl-schemas.html

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243

\l - Display database
\c - Connect to database
\dn - List schemas
\dt - List tables inside public schemas
\dt schema1.* - List tables inside a particular schema.
                For example: 'schema1'.

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PostgreSQL

postgresql.org › docs › current › ddl-schemas.html

PostgreSQL: Documentation: 18: 5.10. Schemas

May 14, 2026 - OPERATOR(schema.operator) This is needed to avoid syntactic ambiguity. An example is: SELECT 3 OPERATOR(pg_catalog.+) 4; In practice one usually relies on the search path for operators, so as not to have to write anything so ugly as that. By default, users cannot access any objects in schemas they do not own.

Top answer

1 of 5

460

To lists all schemas, use the (ANSI) standard INFORMATION_SCHEMA

select schema_name
from information_schema.schemata;

More details in the manual

alternatively:

select nspname
from pg_catalog.pg_namespace;

More details about pg_catalog in the manual

2 of 5

454

When using the psql command line, you may list all schema with command \dn.

Devart

devart.com › dbforge › postgresql › studio › postgres-list-schemas.html

How to Show List of All Schemas in PostgreSQL Database - Easy Examples

SELECT proname FROM pg_proc p JOIN pg_namespace n ON p.pronamespace = n.oid WHERE n.nspname = 'sales'; Let's execute this query to retrieve all the procedures from the sales schema: PostgreSQL schemas serve as vital organizational structures within databases, providing a logical framework for categorizing and managing data.

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dataedo.com › kb › query › postgresql › list-schemas-in-database

List schemas in PostgreSQL database - PostgreSQL Data Dictionary Queries

November 7, 2018 - Query below lists all schemas in PostgreSQL database. Schemas include default pg_* , information_schema and temporary schemas. If you want to list user only schemas use this script. select s.nspname as table_schema, s.oid as schema_id, u.usename as owner from pg_catalog.pg_namespace s join pg_catalog.pg_user u on u.usesysid = s.nspowner order by table_schema; table_schema - schema name ·

Airbyte

airbyte.com › home › data engineering resources › postgresql list all schemas in database

How to List All Schemas in the PostgreSQL Database: An Ultimate Guide | Airbyte

September 9, 2025 - The simplest way to list schemas in PostgreSQL is using psql's built-in meta-commands: \dn · This displays a basic list of schema names and their owners. For more detailed information including access privileges and descriptions: \dn+ These ...

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How to List Schemas in PostgreSQL and Related Commands

November 22, 2023 - SELECT nspname FROM pg_catalog.pg_namespace WHERE nspowner = (SELECT oid FROM pg_roles WHERE rolname = 'username'); This query, for example, lists schemas owned by a specific user. Below you will also find the most commonly used and valuable commands. How to view the details of a specific schema in PostgreSQL

reddit.com › r/postgresql › why is postgre sql asking me to specify a schema when i want to select a column?

r/PostgreSQL on Reddit: Why is Postgre SQL asking me to specify a schema when I want to select a column?

February 24, 2025 -

For example I have a database with 2 schemas, public & shop and I want to select the table of a column

SELECT * FROM payment

and I get this error SQL state: 42P01

Yet if I use the Schema shop

SELECT * FROM shop.payment

There is no error,

Yet on other database that I am working with that has also 1 schema and public, yet I don't need to specify the schema name, why is this?

For example

SELECT * FROM payment

works perfectly in that database.

Why is this?

Top answer

1 of 7

Issue: show search_path; and check result. If you're using psql, then the situation is trivial to diagnose: \dt *.payment will tell you how many paymenbt tables, you have, and in which schemas. If the schema the table is in, is not in search_path - it will not be "found". You have to put the schema in search_path, or just always prefix table name with "schema."

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May need to add the shop schema to the search path.

Softbuilder

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How to list all schemas in PostgreSQL? - Softbuilder Blog

May 23, 2021 - We can list all PostgreSQL schemas using the (ANSI) standard INFORMATION_SCHEMA: SELECT schema_name FROM information_schema.schemata; Alternatively, we can use: SELECT nspname FROM pg_catalog.pg_namespace; Sample results As a result, you will ...

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How to List Schemas in PostgreSQL — CommandPrompt Inc.

February 1, 2023 - That’s all from this blog! ... In PostgreSQL, the standard “information_schema”, a system catalog table named “pg_namespace”, and the “\dn” command is used to get the list of available schemas.

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RazorSQL

razorsql.com › articles › postgresql_system_queries.html

PostgreSQL System Queries for Getting Tables, Schemas, Databases, Views, Indexes, Functions, and Triggers

This query will return all databases for the server: select * from pg_catalog.pg_database · These queries will return all views across all schemas in the database: select * from information_schema.views select * from pg_catalog.pg_views;

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Schemas in PostgreSQL: Best Practices of PostgreSQL Schemas

March 11, 2024 - 1 -- Create the "inventory" schema ... table 32 SELECT * FROM public.users; ... demonstrate how to query products from the "inventory.products" table and users from the "public.users" table. What has been achieved in the end? It is now simpler to maintain and organize your e-commerce database since we have successfully segregated the product inventory from the customer data. This example demonstrates the usefulness of PostgreSQL schemas and how they ...

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August 17, 2021 - You can view the existing list of schemas like below. SELECT schema_name FROM information_schema.schemata;

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How to List Schemas in PostgreSQL: Commands & Examples

December 23, 2024 - The pg_namespace catalog contains information about all schemas in a PostgreSQL database, and you can query it to get a list of schemas. ... This command, when used in the psql command-line interface, displays all schemas within the current database along with their owners. It is a quick way to get a schema overview. Example 2: Listing Schemas with a Query on pg_namespace ... -- Retrieves the names of all schemas in the database SELECT nspname AS schema_name FROM pg_namespace;

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How to Get the Name of the Current Schema in PostgreSQL — CommandPrompt Inc.

August 14, 2023 - SELECT CURRENT_SCHEMA, CURRENT_SCHEMA(); The output shows that the current schema name is “public”: How to Get the Name of the Current Schema in PostgreSQL Using CURRENT_SCHEMAS Function?

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tableplus.com › blog › 2018 › 04 › postgresql-how-to-list-all-schemas.html

PostgreSQL - How to list all available schemas? | TablePlus

April 2, 2018 - Except the system schemas that you usually do not interact with, all the available schemas will be listed here, including the empty ones. To also see the system schemas, select the dropdown next to the + button > Settings > Show System Schemas. Need a good GUI tool for PostgreSQL?

Stack Overflow

stackoverflow.com › questions › 50509919 › how-to-list-schemas-in-postgresql

sql - How to list schemas in PostgreSQL? - Stack Overflow

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These list all schemas including system's in the current database:

\dnS

\dn *

These list all schemas including system's in the current database in detail:

\dnS+

\dn+ *

This lists all schemas excluding system's in the current database:

\dn

This lists all schemas excluding system's in the current database in detail:

\dn+

These also list all schemas including system's in the current database:

SELECT * FROM pg_namespace;

SELECT * FROM information_schema.schemata;

2 of 2

several points:

If you want to see what query is used for psql shortcut, run psql -E (with -E key)
select *from pg_namespace will give you list of schemas
select * from pg_class limit where relnamespace = 'your_schema'::regnamespace will give you all schema relations
select * from pg_class limit where relnamespace = 'your_schema'::regnamespace and relkind = 'r' will limit the list to tables only

to limit list of schemas to owned ones only, use

select *from pg_namespace where nspowner = current_user::regrole;

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An Essential Guide to PostgreSQL Schema

Note that when you create a new object without explicitly specifying a schema name, PostgreSQL will also use the current schema for the new object. The current_schema() function returns the current schema: SELECT current_schema(); Here is the output: current_schema ---------------- public (1 row) This is why PostgreSQL uses public for every new object that you create.

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April 27, 2020 - List PostgreSQL schemas with psql, information_schema, and pg_namespace. Filter system schemas, inspect search_path, and browse them in DbSchema.

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October 30, 2023 - For example, if you have a table named "users" in a schema named "public", you can query it as follows: ... This syntax tells PostgreSQL to select all rows from the "users" table in the "public" schema.