PostgreSQL 8.3.1 Documentation
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# SHOW

## Name

SHOW -- show the value of a run-time parameter

## Synopsis

    SHOW name
    SHOW ALL

## Description

`SHOW` will display the current setting of run-time parameters. These variables can be set using the `SET` statement, by editing the `postgresql.conf` configuration file, through the `PGOPTIONS` environmental variable (when using libpq or a libpq-based application), or through command-line flags when starting the `postgres` server. See Chapter 18 for details.

## Parameters

`name`

  The name of a run-time parameter. Available parameters are documented in Chapter 18 and on the SET reference page. In addition, there are a few parameters that can be shown but not set:

  `SERVER_VERSION`

    Shows the server's version number.

  `SERVER_ENCODING`

    Shows the server-side character set encoding. At present, this parameter can be shown but not set, because the encoding is determined at database creation time.

  `LC_COLLATE`

    Shows the database's locale setting for collation (text ordering). At present, this parameter can be shown but not set, because the setting is determined at `initdb` time.

  `LC_CTYPE`

    Shows the database's locale setting for character classification. At present, this parameter can be shown but not set, because the setting is determined at `initdb` time.

  `IS_SUPERUSER`

    True if the current role has superuser privileges.

`ALL`

  Show the values of all configuration parameters, with descriptions.

## Notes

The function `current_setting` produces equivalent output; see Section 9.23. Also, the `pg_settings` system view produces the same information.

## Examples

Show the current setting of the parameter `DateStyle`:

    SHOW DateStyle;
     DateStyle
    -----------
     ISO, MDY
    (1 row)

Show the current setting of the parameter `geqo`:

    SHOW geqo;
     geqo
    ------
     on
    (1 row)

Show all settings:

    SHOW ALL;
                  name              |            setting             |                                         description
    --------------------------------+--------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     add_missing_from               | off                            | Automatically adds missing table references to FROM clauses.
     allow_system_table_mods        | off                            | Allows modifications of the structure of system tables.
        .
        .
        .
     work_mem                       | 1024                           | Sets the maximum memory to be used for query workspaces.
     zero_damaged_pages             | off                            | Continues processing past damaged page headers.
    (146 rows)

## Compatibility

The `SHOW` command is a PostgreSQL extension.

## See Also

SET, RESET

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