Where does PostgreSQL store the database?

Question

Where are the files for a PostgreSQL database stored?

Answer 1

Postgres stores data in files in its data directory. Follow the steps below to go to a database and its files:

The database corresponding to a postgresql table file is a directory. The location of the entire data directory can be obtained by running SHOW data_directory. in a UNIX like OS (eg: Mac) /Library/PostgreSQL/9.4/data Go inside the base folder in the data directory which has all the database folders: /Library/PostgreSQL/9.4/data/base

Find the database folder name by running (Gives an integer. This is the database folder name):

SELECT oid from pg_database WHERE datname = ;

Find the table file name by running (Gives an integer. This is the file name):

SELECT relname, relfilenode FROM pg_class WHERE relname = ; 

This is a binary file. File details such as size and creation date time can be obtained as usual. For more info read this SO thread