PostgreSQL Query Generator
Generate PostgreSQL queries with inline literals or numbered $1, $2 parameter slots.
Written by Golam Rabbani, Founder & Lead Engineer
How to use this postgresql query generator
- Pick the operation: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE.
- Choose value style — inline literals or numbered $1, $2 placeholders for parameter binding.
- Enter the table name; identifiers are double-quoted automatically.
- Fill in columns, values, SET pairs, WHERE, and optional RETURNING clauses.
- Press Generate to emit the SQL; copy both the query and the bound parameter list.
About this postgresql query generator
The PostgreSQL query generator follows Postgres conventions: double-quoted identifiers (with internal quotes doubled), single-quoted string literals (with internal quotes doubled), and a RETURNING clause supported on INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE. The "numbered placeholders" option swaps every value for $1, $2, …, and returns the original values as a separate bound-parameter list so you can paste the prepared statement and parameters into pg, node-postgres, psycopg, or any driver that takes parameterised queries. Inline literal mode is handy for quick ad-hoc work in psql.
Worked example: pick INSERT, set table to "users", columns to "name, email", values to "Ada, [email protected]", RETURNING to "id, created_at", and value style to "Numbered ($1, $2)". The tool emits: INSERT INTO "users" ("name", "email") VALUES ($1, $2) RETURNING "id", "created_at";
with bound parameters $1 = "Ada", $2 = "[email protected]". Switch to inline literals and the same form produces the literal-embedded statement instead. Everything runs locally — no database connection, no telemetry.
FAQ
- What is the difference between inline literals and numbered placeholders?
- Inline literals embed the value directly in the SQL string with single-quote escaping. Numbered placeholders replace each value with $1, $2, … and return the values separately so you can pass them through a parameterised driver — which is safer for user input.
- Why are identifiers double-quoted?
- PostgreSQL uses double quotes to delimit identifiers. Quoting them preserves case sensitivity and lets identifier names contain reserved words or non-standard characters. Internal double quotes are doubled to stay safe.
- Does RETURNING work for every operation?
- PostgreSQL allows RETURNING on INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE — the generator only renders the clause for those operations. SELECT does not have RETURNING.
- Can I use the output with node-postgres or psycopg?
- Yes. Switch to numbered placeholders and you get a string like SELECT … WHERE id = $1 plus the bound-parameter list — exactly the shape both drivers accept.
- Does it run an EXPLAIN or check for syntax errors?
- No. It is a template generator, not a parser. The output is syntactically valid Postgres SQL when the form fields are well-formed; whether the query is semantically correct against your schema is up to your database.
- Is anything sent to a server?
- No. Generation runs entirely in your browser, so values, table names, and parameter lists never leave the page.