> This page location: Roles & Privileges > SET ROLE Statement
> Full Neon documentation index: https://neon.com/docs/llms.txt

# PostgreSQL SET ROLE Statement

**Summary**: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the `SET ROLE` statement to temporarily change the current role within a database session.

## Introduction to the PostgreSQL SET ROLE statement

The `SET ROLE` statement allows you to temporarily change the current role within a database session

Here's the syntax of the `SET ROLE` statement:

```sql
SET ROLE role_name;
```

In this syntax, you specify the name of the role to which you want to switch.

The `role_name` must be a role of which the current session user is a member.

If the session user is a superuser, you can switch to any role.

## PostgreSQL SET ROLE statement example

We'll take an example of using the `SET ROLE` statement.

First, [connect](../postgresql-getting-started/connect-to-postgresql-database) to the `dvdrental` database using `psql`:

```bash
psql -U postres -d dvdrental
```

Second, [create a group role](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-role-membership) called `marketing`:

```sql
CREATE ROLE marketing;
```

Third, [grant](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-grant) the `SELECT` privilege on the `film` table:

```sql
GRANT SELECT ON film TO marketing;
```

Fourth, [create a role](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-role-membership) called `lily` that is a member of the `marketing` role:

```sql
CREATE ROLE lily
WITH LOGIN PASSWORD 'SecurePass1'
IN ROLE marketing;
```

Sixth, connect to the `dvdrental` database using the `lily` role in a separate session:

```bash
psql -U lily -d dvdrental
```

Seventh, retrieve the current role:

```sql
SELECT current_role;
```

Output:

```text
 current_role
--------------
 lily
(1 row)
```

Eight, switch the current role to `marketing`:

```sql
SET ROLE marketing;
```

Ninth, retrieve the current role:

```text
 current_role
--------------
 marketing
(1 row)
```

Output:

```text
 current_role
--------------
 marketing
(1 row)
```

The output indicates that the current role is `marketing`, not `lily` due to the `SET ROLE` statement.

If you attempt to switch the current role to a [superuser](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/create-superuser-postgresql) such as `postgres`, you'll get an error because the current role is not a `superuser` role.

Tenth, switch the current role to `postgres`:

```sql
SET ROLE postgres;
```

Output:

```
ERROR:  permission denied to set role "postgres"
```

To set the current role back to the original one, you use the `RESET` `ROLE` statement:

```sql
RESET ROLE;
```

Eleventh, select the current role:

```text
 current_role
--------------
 lily
(1 row)
```

The current role is back to `lily`.

## Summary

- Use the `SET` `ROLE` statement to temporarily change the current role within a database session.
- Use the `RESET` `ROLE` statement to reset the role to the original one.

---

## Related docs (Roles & Privileges)

- [Create Roles](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-roles)
- [Grant Privileges](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-grant)
- [Revoke Privileges](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-revoke)
- [Alter roles](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-alter-role)
- [Drop Roles](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-drop-role)
- [Role Membership](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-role-membership)
- [CURRENT_USER](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-current_user)
- [List Roles](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-list-users)
- [Change Password](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-change-password)
- [Create Superusers](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/create-superuser-postgresql)
- [PostgreSQL Row-Level Security](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-row-level-security)