PostgreSQL has a separate command-line tool that’s been available for decades and is included with any installation of PostgreSQL. Many long-term PostgreSQL users, developers, and administrators rely on psql to help them quickly connect to databases, examine the schema, and execute SQL queries.
Knowing how to install and use basic psql commands is an essential skill to have for anyone that will connect to PostgreSQL.
A Brief History of psql
To understand why PostgreSQL has its own command line utility and why it is so integrated into how developers work with PostgreSQL, we need to take a quick step into