---
name: "show"
section: "7"
platform: "linux"
package: "postgresql"
version: "7.4.7-6sarge6"
release: "Debian 3.1 (Sarge)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/show/7"
---

# show(7)

show the value of a run-time parameter

## 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 **postmaster**. See the section called \`\`Run-time Configuration'' in the documentation for details.

## PARAMETERS

- *name*

  The name of a run-time parameter. Available parameters are documented in the section called \`\`Run-time Configuration'' in the documentation and on the SET \[[**set**(7)](/set/7.md)\] 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 session authorization identifier has superuser privileges.

- **ALL**

  Show the values of all configurations parameters.

## NOTES

The function **current\_setting** produces equivalent output. See the section called \`\`Miscellaneous Functions'' in the documentation.

## 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
-------------------------------+---------------------------------------
 australian_timezones          | off
 authentication_timeout        | 60
 checkpoint_segments           | 3
    .
    .
    .
 wal_debug                     | 0
 wal_sync_method               | fdatasync
(94 rows)

```

## COMPATIBILITY

The **SHOW** command is a PostgreSQL extension.

## SEE ALSO

SET \[[**set**(7)](/set/7.md)\]