pgAdmin4 - Catalog

 

SELECT column_name, data_type
FROM information_schema.columns
ORDER BY ordinal_position;

In a PostgreSQL database, the above query can return rows, but I can't find information_schema.columns. Can you tell me where it is?

 

It is in a separate Schema

By default, most database tools (like pgAdmin or DBeaver) only show you the public schema. The information_schema is a separate, system-level schema.

• To find it in a GUI: Look for a folder named "Schemas," then "information_schema," and then look under "Views" (not "Tables").

• To find it via CLI (psql): You can list all views in that specific schema using: \dv information_schema.*

 

postgres=# \dv information_schema.*
                                List of views
       Schema       |                 Name                  | Type |  Owner
--------------------+---------------------------------------+------+----------
 information_schema | _pg_foreign_data_wrappers             | view | postgres
 information_schema | _pg_foreign_servers                   | view | postgres
 information_schema | _pg_foreign_table_columns             | view | postgres
 information_schema | _pg_foreign_tables                    | view | postgres
 information_schema | _pg_user_mappings                     | view | postgres
 information_schema | administrable_role_authorizations     | view | postgres
 information_schema | applicable_roles                      | view | postgres
 information_schema | attributes                            | view | postgres
 information_schema | character_sets                        | view | postgres
 information_schema | check_constraint_routine_usage        | view | postgres
 information_schema | check_constraints                     | view | postgres
 information_schema | collation_character_set_applicability | view | postgres
 information_schema | collations                            | view | postgres
 information_schema | column_column_usage                   | view | postgres
 information_schema | column_domain_usage                   | view | postgres
 information_schema | column_options                        | view | postgres
 information_schema | column_privileges                     | view | postgres
 information_schema | column_udt_usage                      | view | postgres
 information_schema | columns                               | view | postgres
 information_schema | constraint_column_usage               | view | postgres
 information_schema | constraint_table_usage                | view | postgres
 information_schema | data_type_privileges                  | view | postgres
 information_schema | domain_constraints                    | view | postgres
 information_schema | domain_udt_usage                      | view | postgres
 information_schema | domains                               | view | postgres
 information_schema | element_types                         | view | postgres
 information_schema | enabled_roles                         | view | postgres
 information_schema | foreign_data_wrapper_options          | view | postgres
 information_schema | foreign_data_wrappers                 | view | postgres
 information_schema | foreign_server_options                | view | postgres
 information_schema | foreign_servers                       | view | postgres
 information_schema | foreign_table_options                 | view | postgres
 information_schema | foreign_tables                        | view | postgres
 information_schema | information_schema_catalog_name       | view | postgres
 information_schema | key_column_usage                      | view | postgres
 information_schema | parameters                            | view | postgres
 information_schema | referential_constraints               | view | postgres
 information_schema | role_column_grants                    | view | postgres
 information_schema | role_routine_grants                   | view | postgres
 information_schema | role_table_grants                     | view | postgres
 information_schema | role_udt_grants                       | view | postgres
 information_schema | role_usage_grants                     | view | postgres
 information_schema | routine_column_usage                  | view | postgres
 information_schema | routine_privileges                    | view | postgres
 information_schema | routine_routine_usage                 | view | postgres
 information_schema | routine_sequence_usage                | view | postgres
 information_schema | routine_table_usage                   | view | postgres
 information_schema | routines                              | view | postgres
 information_schema | schemata                              | view | postgres
 information_schema | sequences                             | view | postgres
 information_schema | table_constraints                     | view | postgres
 information_schema | table_privileges                      | view | postgres
 information_schema | tables                                | view | postgres
 information_schema | transforms                            | view | postgres
 information_schema | triggered_update_columns              | view | postgres
 information_schema | triggers                              | view | postgres
 information_schema | udt_privileges                        | view | postgres
 information_schema | usage_privileges                      | view | postgres
 information_schema | user_defined_types                    | view | postgres
 information_schema | user_mapping_options                  | view | postgres
 information_schema | user_mappings                         | view | postgres
 information_schema | view_column_usage                     | view | postgres
 information_schema | view_routine_usage                    | view | postgres
 information_schema | view_table_usage                      | view | postgres
 information_schema | views                                 | view | postgres
(65 rows)

 

How to make pgAdmin show all schemas?

 

Step-by-Step: Enabling System Objects

1. Open pgAdmin 4.

2. Go to the top menu bar and select File > Preferences.

3. In the left-hand sidebar of the Preferences window, look for the Browser section and click on Nodes.

4. Scroll down the list of checkboxes until you find Show system objects?.

5. Toggle this to True (or check the box).

6. Click Save.

 

There's no 'Show system objects' or 'System Objects' option for Nodes.

 

The Updated Path (pgAdmin 4 v6.x and v7.x+)

1. Go to File > Preferences.

2. In the left sidebar, expand Browser and then click on Display.

3. Look for the checkbox labeled Show system objects?.

4. Toggle it to True and click Save.

 

 

 

 

I found the 'Show system objects' option in Display, enabled it and did the refresh. A new schema pg_toast can be seen besides schema public, but still can't see schema information_schema.

 

The "Dash" in the Browser Tree

In some versions of pgAdmin 4, the information_schema is tucked away under a specific sub-node rather than being top-level with public.

• Expand your Database > Schemas.

• Scroll past public and pg_toast.

• If you see a node called Catalog, expand it. In many versions, pgAdmin moves information_schema and pg_catalog inside a "Catalog" folder to separate them from user-created schemas.