---
title: "SHOW"
id: sql-show
pg_version: "20devel"
---

<a id="sql-show"></a>

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

## Synopsis

```
SHOW name
SHOW ALL
```

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## 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 19](runtime-config.md) for details. 

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## Parameters

**`name`**

 The name of a run-time parameter. Available parameters are documented in [Chapter 19](runtime-config.md) and on the [SET](sql-set.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. **`IS_SUPERUSER`**

 True if the current role has superuser privileges. **`ALL`**

 Show the values of all configuration parameters, with descriptions. <a id="id-1.9.3.183.7"></a>

## Notes

The function `current_setting` produces equivalent output; see [Section 9.29.1](functions-admin.md#functions-admin-set). Also, the [pg_settings](view-pg-settings.md) system view produces the same information. 

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## 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
-------------------------+---------+-------------------------------------------------
 allow_system_table_mods | off     | Allows modifications of the structure of ...
    .
    .
    .
 xmloption               | content | Sets whether XML data in implicit parsing ...
 zero_damaged_pages      | off     | Continues processing past damaged page headers.
(196 rows)


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## Compatibility

The `SHOW` command is a PostgreSQL extension. 

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## See Also

[SET](sql-set.md), [RESET](sql-reset.md)