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Special Commands

pgxcli supports PostgreSQL-style backslash commands. Type them directly at the prompt.


Session Commands

These control your session:

CommandDescription
\q, \quit, \exitQuit pgxcli (case-insensitive)
\c <database>Switch to a different database on the same server
\connect <database>Same as \c
\conninfoShow current connection details (database, user, host, port)

Switching Databases

\c other_db

pgxcli closes the current connection and opens a new one to other_db. The server, user, and port stay the same.

Connection Info

\conninfo

Outputs something like:

You are connected to database "mydb" as user "postgres" on Host "localhost" at port 5432

Catalog Commands

These come from the pgxspecial library and work like their psql equivalents. pgxcli provides autocompletion for these meta commands to help you discover them quickly:

CommandDescription
\d [pattern]Describe a table, view, or other object
\dt [pattern]List tables
\dv [pattern]List views
\di [pattern]List indexes
\ds [pattern]List sequences
\df [pattern]List functions
\lList all databases
\dnList schemas
\duList roles
\dxList installed extensions
tip

Commands with [pattern] accept an optional filter. For example, \dt public.* lists only tables in the public schema.


Change the Working Directory

Use \cd to change the working directory used for local paths:

\cd migrations
\cd ../sql
\cd "directory with spaces"

Running \cd without a directory changes to your home directory. Paths may be absolute, relative to the current working directory, or start with ~ to refer to your home directory.

Press Tab after \cd to complete directory names. Hidden directories are suggested when the name being completed starts with ..


Built-in Commands

These are pgxcli-specific:

CommandDescription
\clear, /clearClear the terminal screen (Currently disabled, will be fixed in an upcoming update)

SQL Execution

Anything that isn't a special command is treated as SQL and sent to the database.