How to exit from PostgreSQL command line utility: psql

1883
votes

What command or short key can I use to exit the PostgreSQL command line utility psql?

8
postgresqlpostgresql-9.1psql
@a_horse_with_no_name: I'm not shocked by the question, but the number of upvotes :) Compare e.g. to How do you quit the Vi editor with single keypress? – user272735
Sometimes we need quick and straight forward answer than searching it in the manual to focus on the real problem.In such cases these short questions are really helpful. – App Work
The real question is not "are people capable of reading a manual", but "should enterprise software respond to standard exit sequences" like, I don't know, "exit"? Having to read the manual to quit seems seriously counter-intuitive. – Kheldar
@Kheldar Indeed, it's just bad user interface design (coupled with arrogance). People are insecure about weird things. – Iain Collins
more importantly, this post is now the first hit when i google "exit psql" – Angel S. Moreno

8 Answers

2618
votes

Type \q and then press ENTER to quit psql.

UPDATE: 19-OCT-2018

As of PostgreSQL 11, the keywords "quit" and "exit" in the PostgreSQL command-line interface have been included to help make it easier to leave the command-line tool.

764
votes

My usual key sequence is:

quit()
quit
exit()
exit
q
q()
!q
^C
help
Alt + Tab
google.com
Quit PSQL
\q

I think veterans of the psql command line usually shorten that to just:

\q
304
votes

Ctrl+D is what I usually use to exit psql console.

30
votes

Use:

  • Ctrl+Z - this sends the TSTP signal (TSTP is short for “terminal stop”)
  • Ctrl+</kbd> - this sends the QUIT signal

For curiosity:

  • Ctrl+D - this sends the EOF character. EOF stands for "end of file". In this concrete case it exits from the psql subprogram, as the shell is waiting for user input. This should not be 'the way to go' as it is not working if:
  • any other character is entered before - try entering some white spaces and then press Ctrl+D, it's not going to exit psql.
  • if the user input is not required at all
21
votes

quit or exit or \q

Based on PostgreSQL 11 Beta 1 Released!:

User Experience Enhancements

Another feature that fell into this category was the inability to intuitively quit from the PostgreSQL command-line (psql). There has been numerous recorded complaints of users trying to quit with the quit and exit commands, only to learn that the command to do so was \q.

We have heard your frustrations and have now added the ability to quit the command-line using the keywords quit and exit and hope that quitting a PostgreSQL session is now as enjoyable as using PostgreSQL.

10
votes

For Linux command line \q + enter.

Quiting with Ctrl + D also is works

8
votes

I learned that I could include \q in a batch .sql file, so I could have psql quit earlier from an \i operation.

6
votes

Actually, \q, exit and CTRL + D did'nt worked for me to exit from the psql program. 

Ctrl + Shift + D

Worked for me. Hope it ll help someone :)

My ubuntu version is 19.04