# How to select/access a database in PostgreSQL

> There are multiple ways to select or access a PostgreSQL database, such as Command Prompt (cmd), SQL SHELL (psql), and pgAdmin 4.

Once you have created a PostgreSQL database, the next step is to select or access that database. A PostgreSQL database can be selected or accessed using multiple methods such as **command prompt, pgAdmin,** or **SQL SHELL(psql)**. So, let’s learn how to access a Postgres database.

 **How to access/select a PostgreSQL database using SQL SHELL?**

We have already created some databases, and now we will select one of them using the **SQL SHELL(psql)**. If you have not yet created a PostgreSQL database, we recommend you to read our tutorial on [database creation](<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FlxBv_r5W-3wopbAQrNmWLYxJRh6rG3L/edit>).

 **Step 1: Open psql**

Firstly, type **“psql”** in the Windows search bar and open it:

 **Step 2: List of databases**

Type **“\l”** to check all the available databases:

 **Step 3: Select database**

Choose a desired database from the available databases, and type the following command to access it:
    
    
    \c exampledb;

Here, the **“\c”** is a command used to select/access a database while **“exampledb”** is a database to be accessed:

This is how you can access any database using **“psql”**.

 **How to access/select a PostgreSQL database using Command prompt?**

Follow the below-listed steps to select the desired PostgresQL database using the Windows command prompt(cmd):

 **Step1: Open cmd**

Type **“cmd”** in the Windows search bar and click on the command prompt app to open it:

 **Step 2: Access Postgres**

To access the Postgres bin directory, provide the complete path of the directory where Postgres is installed:

Now, you are successfully entered into the PostgreSQL bin’s directory.

 **Step 3: Select database**

Type the below-given command to access the desired database:
    
    
    psql -h localhost -p 5432 -U postgres exampledb

\- Here, in the above snippet, we utilized the **“-h”** option/argument to specify the host, **“-p”** argument to specify the port number, and **“-U”** to specify the user name. While **“exampledb”** is the database to be accessed.

\- Type the command, press the enter button, and provide the superuser password.

\- Consequently, the above-mentioned command will select the database named **“exampledb”** , owned by the user **“Postgres”,** available on the **“localhost”,** and has a default port number **“5432”** :

The above snippet clarified that we have successfully accessed the “exampledb” database using the command prompt.

 **How to access/select a PostgreSQL database using pgAdmin?**

The below-listed steps will guide you to select a Postgres database using pgAdmin:

 **Step 1: Open pgAdmin**

Search **“pgAdmin”** in the windows search bar and open it:

 **Step 2: Select Database**

Select the desired database from the available databases:

 **Step 3: Select Query Tool**

Click on the **“Tools”** tab, and select the **“Query tool”** from the drop-down menu:

Clicking on the **“Query Tool”** will open a new window with an established connection to the desired database:

The above window shows that the desired database, i.e. **“exampledb”** , has been selected successfully.

 **Conclusion**

There are multiple ways to select or access a PostgreSQL database, such as Command Prompt (cmd), SQL SHELL (psql), and pgAdmin 4. Type **“\c”** followed by a database name to select a database using psql. Type **“psql hostname port number username databasename”** to select a database using cmd. Open pgAdmin > select desired database> and open the “Query Tool” to select a database using pgAdmin. This write-up considered multiple methods along with screenshots to select/access a PostgreSQL database.

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