> This page location: Manage Databases > Create Database > Full Neon documentation index: https://neon.com/docs/llms.txt # PostgreSQL CREATE DATABASE **Summary**: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the **PostgreSQL CREATE DATABASE** statement to create new databases in the PostgreSQL server. ## Introduction to PostgreSQL CREATE DATABASE statement In PostgreSQL, a database is a collection of related data, which serves as a container for tables, [indexes](../postgresql-indexes/postgresql-index-types), [views](../postgresql-views), and other database objects. To create a new database, you use the `CREATE DATABASE` statement. Here's the basic syntax of the `CREATE DATABASE` statement: ```sql CREATE DATABASE database_name WITH [OWNER = role_name] [TEMPLATE = template] [ENCODING = encoding] [LC_COLLATE = collate] [LC_CTYPE = ctype] [TABLESPACE = tablespace_name] [ALLOW_CONNECTIONS = true | false] [CONNECTION LIMIT = max_concurrent_connection] [IS_TEMPLATE = true | false ]; ``` In this syntax: - First, specify the name of the new database that you want to create after the `CREATE DATABASE` keywords. The database name must be unique in the PostgreSQL server. If you attempt to create a database whose name already exists, PostgreSQL will issue an error. - Then, use one or more parameters for the new database. ### Parameters **OWNER** Assign a [role](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-roles) that will be the owner of the database. If you omit the `OWNER` option, the database owner is the role you use to execute the `CREATE DATABASE` statement. **TEMPLATE** Specify the template database for the new database. PostgreSQL uses the `template1` database as the default template database if you don't explicitly specify the template database. **ENCODING** Determine the character set for the new database. **LC_COLLATE** Specify the collation order (`LC_COLLATE`) that the new database will use. This parameter affects the sort order of strings in queries that contain the [`ORDER BY`](../postgresql-tutorial/postgresql-order-by) clause. It defaults to the `LC_COLLATE` of the template database. **LC_CTYPE** Specify the character classification that the new database will use. It affects the classification of characters such as lower, upper, and digit. It defaults to the `LC_CTYPE` of the template database **TABLESPACE** Specify the [tablespace](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-create-tablespace) name for the new database. The default is the tablespace of the template database. **CONNECTION LIMIT** Specify the maximum concurrent connections to the new database. The default is -1 which means unlimited. This parameter can be useful in shared hosting environments where you can configure the maximum concurrent connections for a particular database. **ALLOW_CONNECTIONS** The `allow_connections` parameter is a boolean value. If it is `false`, you cannot connect to the database. **IS_TEMPLATE** If the `IS_TEMPLATE` is true, any user with the `CREATEDB` privilege can clone it. If false, only superusers or the database owner can clone it. To execute the `CREATE DATABASE` statement, you need to have a superuser role or a special `CREATEDB` privilege. ## PostgreSQL CREATE DATABASE examples Let's explore some examples of using the `CREATE DATABASE` statement. ### 1) Create a database with default parameters First, open the Command Prompt on Windows or Terminal on Unix-like systems and connect to the PostgreSQL server: ```bash psql -U postgres ``` Second, execute the `CREATE DATABASE` statement to a new database with default parameters: ```sql CREATE DATABASE sales; ``` Output: ``` CREATE DATABASE ``` PostgreSQL will create a new database called `sales` that has default parameters from the default template database (`template1`). Third, show all the databases using the `\l` command: ``` \l ``` Output: ``` List of databases Name | Owner | Encoding | Locale Provider | Collate | Ctype | ICU Locale | ICU Rules | Access privileges -----------+----------+----------+-----------------+----------------------------+----------------------------+------------+-----------+----------------------- dvdrental | postgres | UTF8 | libc | English_United States.1252 | English_United States.1252 | | | postgres | postgres | UTF8 | libc | English_United States.1252 | English_United States.1252 | | | tempdb | postgres | UTF8 | libc | English_United States.1252 | English_United States.1252 | | | template0 | postgres | UTF8 | libc | English_United States.1252 | English_United States.1252 | | | =c/postgres + | | | | | | | | postgres=CTc/postgres template1 | postgres | UTF8 | libc | English_United States.1252 | English_United States.1252 | | | =c/postgres + | | | | | | | | postgres=CTc/postgres (5 rows) ``` Alternatively, you can retrieve the database names from the `pg_database` view: ```sql SELECT datname FROM pg_database; ``` Output: ``` datname ----------- postgres dvdrental template1 template0 tempdb sales (6 rows) ``` ### 2) Create a database with options The following example uses the `CREATE DATABASE` statement to create a database named `hr` with some parameters: ```sql CREATE DATABASE hr WITH ENCODING = 'UTF8' CONNECTION LIMIT = 100; ``` This statement creates a database called `hr` with the encoding UTF8 and the number of concurrent connections to the database is 100. ### 3) Creating a new database using pgAdmin The pgAdmin tool provides an intuitive interface for creating a new database. First, connect to the PostgreSQL database server using pgAdmin. Second, right-click the **Databases** node and select **Create > Database…** menu item ![](https://neon.com/postgresqltutorial/PostgreSQL-Create-Database-pgAdmin-Step-1.png)It will show a dialog to enter detailed information on the new database. Third, enter the name of the database and select an owner in the general tab. ![](https://neon.com/postgresqltutorial/PostgreSQL-Create-Database-pgAdmin-Step-2.png) In this example, we create a new database called `sampledb` and owner `postgres`. Fourth, select the **Definition** tab to set the properties for the database: ![](https://neon.com/postgresqltutorial/PostgreSQL-Create-Database-pgAdmin-Step-3.png) In the **Definition** tab, you can select the encoding, a template, tablespace, collation, character type, and connection limit. The **Security** tab allows you to define security labels and assign privileges. The **Privileges** tab allows you to assign privileges to a role. Fifth, click the SQL tab to view the generated SQL statement that will execute. ![](https://neon.com/postgresqltutorial/PostgreSQL-Create-Database-pgAdmin-Step-4.png) Finally, click the **Save** button to create the `sampledb` database. You will see the `sampledb` listed on the database list: ![](https://neon.com/postgresqltutorial/PostgreSQL-Create-Database-pgAdmin-Step-5.png) ## Summary - Use the `CREATE DATABASE` statement to create a new database. --- ## Related docs (Manage Databases) - [Alter Database](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-alter-database) - [Rename Database](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-rename-database) - [Drop Database](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-drop-database) - [Copy a Database](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-copy-database) - [Get Database Object Sizes](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-database-indexes-table-size) - [Change Database Owner](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgres-change-database-owner)