initdb

creates a new PostgreSQL database cluster

TLDR

Initialize PostgreSQL database cluster

$ initdb -D [/var/lib/postgresql/data]

Initialize with specific encoding

$ initdb -D [/var/lib/postgresql/data] -E UTF8

Initialize with specific locale

$ initdb -D [/var/lib/postgresql/data] --locale=[en_US.UTF-8]

Initialize with authentication

$ initdb -D [/var/lib/postgresql/data] -A [scram-sha-256] -W

Initialize with specific user

$ initdb -D [/var/lib/postgresql/data] -U [postgres]

initdb creates a new PostgreSQL database cluster. A cluster is a collection of databases managed by a single PostgreSQL server instance, stored in a data directory.This command must be run before starting PostgreSQL for the first time. It creates the template databases, configuration files, and directory structure.

PARAMETERS

-D, --pgdata dir

Data directory location.

-E, --encoding encoding

Default database encoding.

--locale locale

Default locale.

-U, --username user

Database superuser name.

-W, --pwprompt

Prompt for superuser password.

-A, --auth method

Authentication method.

--auth-local method

Local connection auth method.

--auth-host method

Host connection auth method.

-k, --data-checksums

Enable data checksums.

--wal-segsize size

WAL segment size.

INSTALL

sudo dnf install postgresql17

sudo apk add postgresql17

sudo zypper install postgresql17

CAVEATS

Must run as the PostgreSQL user. Directory must be empty or non-existent. Encoding and locale affect all databases. Data checksums cannot be changed later.

HISTORY

initdb is part of PostgreSQL, developed since 1996 by the PostgreSQL Global Development Group. It originated from the POSTGRES project at UC Berkeley.