# How to Use Select Query in PostgreSQL

> The SELECT statement is used to fetch one or more columns of a table. It returns a resultant table which is known as the result set or result table.

**PostgreSQL** offers a very useful query named **SELECT** that retrieves the record of an individual or multiple tables. The **SELECT** statement fetches the record from a targeted table of a database and returns the resultant table. On successful execution, the **SELECT** statement returns a resultant table entitled as **result table or** **result set**.

A wide range of clauses can be used with the Postgres **SELECT** statement. For example, WHERE, ORDER BY, HAVING, INNER JOIN, CROSS JOIN, UNION, and so on. All these clauses serve different functionalities and provide more ease/flexibility.

In this write-up, we will discuss the basics of **SELECT** query; however, we will explain the working of each clause in the later tutorials. So, let’s get started!

 **How Does the SELECT Statement Work in PostgreSQL?**

In **PostgreSQL** , you can fetch the record of an individual, multiple, or all column using the **SELECT** statement.

 **How to Select the Data From a Single Column in PostgreSQL?**

The syntax given below shows how to fetch the record of a single column in **PostgreSQL** :
    
    
    SELECT
      col_name
    FROM
      tab_name;

Here is the step-by-step description of the above-given syntax:

\- **SELECT** is a statement used to select/target an individual or a list of columns.

\- **col_name** is the column to be fetched/selected.

\- **FROM** is a clause that determines which table to select.

\- **tab_name** is the targeted table.

 **Example: How to Select a column’s record in PostgreSQL?**

Follow the below-given step-wise instructions to select a single column in **PostgreSQL** :

 **Step 1: Select a Database**

Open **pgAdmin,** and select the desired database from the available databases:

We selected the “example” database.

 **Step 2: Select a Table**

Explore the tables available within the **“example”** database and select the desired table under the **“Schemas”** section:

The above snippet shows that there are seven tables available within the example database. We selected the **“team_info”** table.

 **Step 3: Check the Available Columns**

Click on the selected table and select the **“Columns”** section to see all the columns of that table:

The above snippet shows that the **“team_info”** table has three columns i.e. **“team_id”** , **“team_name”** , and **“team_ranking”**.

 **Step 4: Fetch the Column’s Data**

Suppose we need to fetch the data of the **“team_name”** column. To do this, right-click on the **“Columns”** section and select the **“Query Tool”** :

Now, execute the **SELECT** query to fetch the data of the **“team_name”** column:

The output shows that the **“SELECT”** query succeeded in fetching the data of the **“team_name”** column.

 **How to Select the Data From Multiple Columns in PostgreSQL?**

Let’s have a look at the below-given syntax to understand how to select more than one column in **PostgreSQL** :
    
    
    SELECT
      col_1, col_2, col_3, ..., col_N
    FROM
      tab_name;

Here, **col_1, col_2, col_3, ..., col_N** are the columns to be fetched.

 **Example: How to Fetch More Than One Column in PostgreSQL?**

Suppose we have to fetch the record of the **“team_name”** and **“team_ranking”** columns. To do this, we will run the **“SELECT”** command using the comma-separated syntax:
    
    
    SELECT team_name, team_ranking
    FROM
    team_info;

The output verified that the **SELECT** query successfully fetched the record of the **“team_name”** and **“team_ranking”** columns.

 **How to Select the Data From ALL Columns in PostgreSQL?**

Follow the below syntax to fetch the record of all columns in **PostgreSQL** :
    
    
    SELECT * FROM tab_name;

Specifying an asterisk ***** with the **SELECT** statement will provide the data of all columns.

 **Example: How to Fetch All Columns Data in PostgreSQL?**

Run the below-given query to fetch all the columns of a table:
    
    
    SELECT * FROM team_info;

The output shows that this time **SELECT** query returned all the columns of the selected table.

 **Conclusion**

The **SELECT** statement is used to fetch a single or more than one column of a table. On successful execution, the **SELECT** statement returns a resultant table entitled as **result table or** **result set**. In **PostgreSQL** , asterisk * is used with the **SELECT** statement to fetch the data of all the columns. This write-up explains the working of the **SELECT** query in **PostgreSQL** using some relevant examples.

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