# How to show all tables in PostgreSQL?

By Bobby Iliev, 2022-11-07. https://bobbyiliev.com/post/how-to-show-all-tables-in-postgresql/

## Introduction

PostgreSQL is a powerful, open-source database system. It is a relational database management system (RDBMS) based on the SQL language. PostgreSQL is one of the most popular database systems in the world. It is the go-to database for many developers and companies.

In this tutorial, we will show you how to list all tables in PostgreSQL using the `psql` command-line tool.

## Prerequisites

To follow along with this tutorial, you will need:

- A PostgreSQL database server installed on your computer. You can download and install PostgreSQL from the [official website](https://www.postgresql.org/download/). Or you can use a cloud-based PostgreSQL database such as DigitalOcean's [managed PostgreSQL](https://www.digitalocean.com/products/managed-databases-postgresql/).
- `psql` command-line tool installed on your computer.

## Step 1 — Connect to the PostgreSQL database

To connect to the PostgreSQL database, run the following command:

```bash
psql -U postgres -h localhost -p 5432
```

- The `-U` flag specifies the username to connect to the database. In this case, we are connecting to the default `postgres` user.
- The `-h` flag specifies the hostname of the database server. In this case, we are connecting to the database server running on the same computer, so we use `localhost`.
- The `-p` flag specifies the port number of the database server. In this case, we are connecting to the default port number `5432`.

## Step 2 — Switch to a specific database

To check the list of all databases, run the following command:

```sql
\l
```

That is the equivalent of running `SHOW DATABASES;` in MySQL.

To switch to a specific database, run the following command:

```sql
\c database_name
```

- The `\c` command is used to switch to a specific database.

The `\c` command is similar to the `USE` command in MySQL.

## Step 3 — List all tables in the database

To list all tables in the database, run the following command:

```sql
\dt
```

- The `\dt` command is used to list all tables in the database in the public schema.

The `\dt` command is similar to the `SHOW TABLES;` command in MySQL. You can practice `\dt` in a [browser-based PostgreSQL terminal](https://devops-daily.com/games/postgres-terminal-simulator).

To list all tables in the database in all schemas, run the following command:

```sql
\dt *.*
```

- The `*.*` specifies that we want to list all tables in all schemas.

## Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to list all tables in PostgreSQL using the `psql` command-line tool.

To learn more about SQL, check out this free SQL eBook:

> [Introduction to SQL eBook](https://github.com/bobbyiliev/introduction-to-sql)

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> [Materialize](https://materialize.com?utm_source=bobbyiliev)