> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ngquct-feat-cloudflare-r2-sql.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# PostgreSQL

> Connect to PostgreSQL 12 and later with the libpq driver, including PostGIS display, AWS IAM auth, and pg_dump backups

TablePro supports PostgreSQL 12 and later via the libpq C connector. The same driver powers [Amazon Redshift](/databases/redshift), [CockroachDB](/databases/cockroachdb), and [PGlite](/databases/pglite) connections.

## Connection Settings

| Field        | Default     | Notes                                       |
| ------------ | ----------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| **Host**     | `localhost` |                                             |
| **Port**     | `5432`      |                                             |
| **Username** | -           | Not pre-filled; most servers use `postgres` |
| **Database** | -           | **Required** (unlike MySQL)                 |

Fill in the form and click **Save & Connect**. For remote servers use [SSH tunneling](/databases/ssh-tunneling); Google Cloud SQL instances can connect through the [Cloud SQL Auth Proxy](/databases/cloud-sql-proxy).

<Frame caption="PostgreSQL connection form">
  <img className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/ngquct-feat-cloudflare-r2-sql/wtMckuN2hfshdEnb/images/postgresql-connection-form.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=wtMckuN2hfshdEnb&q=85&s=c8ee15e0cc7a166c9d03d5e020dc1476" alt="PostgreSQL connection form" width="1440" height="1224" data-path="images/postgresql-connection-form.png" />

  <img className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/ngquct-feat-cloudflare-r2-sql/wtMckuN2hfshdEnb/images/postgresql-connection-form-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=wtMckuN2hfshdEnb&q=85&s=ce88170d271e649b94055712e65e6a24" alt="PostgreSQL connection form" width="1440" height="1224" data-path="images/postgresql-connection-form-dark.png" />
</Frame>

## Connection URL

```text theme={null}
postgresql://user:password@host:5432/database
```

`postgres://` also works. Opening a URL connects directly. See [Connection URL Reference](/databases/connection-urls).

## AWS IAM Authentication

Connect to RDS or Aurora with your AWS identity instead of a static password: set **Authentication** to an AWS IAM option and set **Username** to a database role granted `rds_iam`. See [AWS IAM Authentication](/databases/aws-iam) for setup, credential sources, and troubleshooting.

## Features

**Schemas**: The sidebar shows all accessible schemas and tables. Cmd+K switches databases; pick the active schema from the schema menu at the bottom of the sidebar. Table info shows columns, indexes, constraints, and DDL.

**Databases**: Every database on the server is listed, including `postgres`. It is an ordinary database that `initdb` creates for users and applications, not a system database. `template0` and `template1` are not listed.

**Partitioned tables**: A partitioned table is listed once, under its own icon. Its partitions are not listed beside it; expand the table in the sidebar to see them, and expand a partition again if it is subpartitioned. Opening a partition works like opening any other table. Tables that use the older `INHERITS` inheritance are listed normally, since a child there is a table in its own right. Requires PostgreSQL 10 or later, which is where declarative partitioning was added.

**Types**: `jsonb` renders as formatted JSON. `array`, `uuid`, `inet`, `timestamp with time zone`, `interval`, and `bytea` display natively.

**EXPLAIN**: `EXPLAIN` and `EXPLAIN ANALYZE` run with `FORMAT JSON` and render as a plan diagram or tree. See [EXPLAIN Visualization](/features/explain-visualization).

**PostGIS**: `geometry` and `geography` columns render as EWKT with the SRID preserved (`SRID=4326;POINT(-73 40.7237)`) instead of the raw EWKB hex libpq returns. TablePro detects spatial columns from a one-time `pg_type` lookup at connect time and converts fetched values with `ST_AsEWKT(...)`. Your query is never re-run, so parameterized and multi-statement queries render EWKT too. If conversion fails, the raw hex is kept without an error.

**Users & Roles**: Manage database users, roles, and privileges under **View > Users & Roles**: see where each privilege comes from, then grant or revoke it. See [Users & Roles](/features/users-roles).

**Backup & Restore**: **Backup Dump** and **Restore Dump** run `pg_dump` and `pg_restore`. Among TablePro's databases this is available for PostgreSQL and Redshift only. See [Backup & Restore](/features/backup-restore).

## Cross-Database Tabs

A tab stays on the database and schema it was opened with for its whole life, even if the sidebar or another tab switches to a different one. See [Tabs](/features/tabs#database-binding). PostgreSQL, like Redshift and CockroachDB, changes database only by reconnecting: there is no in-place `USE` statement. So a tab bound to a database other than the connection's active one runs on a separate connection for that database instead.

That separate connection means the tab does not share temp tables, session variables, or an open transaction with the query editor on the main connection. Keep session-scoped work, such as a multi-statement transaction or a `CREATE TEMP TABLE`, on tabs bound to the same database if they need to see each other's state.

[PGlite](/databases/pglite) cannot open a second connection at all, so a PGlite tab bound to a database the connection is not on reports an error naming that database instead of running the query against the wrong one.

## Advanced

**\~/.pgpass**: format `hostname:port:database:username:password`, wildcards (`*`) allowed. libpq silently ignores the file unless its permissions are `0600`.

**Startup Commands** (Advanced tab): SQL that runs on every connect, e.g. `SET timezone = 'UTC'; SET search_path TO myschema, public;`.

**Pre-Connect Script** (Advanced tab): a shell script that runs before connecting, e.g. to refresh credentials from a secrets manager. 10-second timeout.

## SSL/TLS

New connections default to **Preferred** (libpq `sslmode=prefer`), which tries TLS first and falls back to plain. Pick **Verify CA** to validate the server certificate. See [SSL/TLS](/features/ssl).

## Troubleshooting

**Connection refused**: check the server is running, `listen_addresses` in `postgresql.conf` allows remote connections, and the firewall allows port 5432.

**Auth failed**: check `pg_hba.conf` for the auth method (`scram-sha-256` or `md5` for passwords, `trust` for local dev).

**Postgres-compatible engines**: connect wire-compatible engines using the PostgreSQL type. TablePro probes which system catalogs the server provides, so engines that omit catalogs like `pg_matviews` still load their tables; object kinds the server does not expose just won't appear.