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PostgreSQL documentation

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<varlistentry>

<term><literal>\copy <replaceable class="parameter">table</replaceable>

[ ( <replaceable class="parameter">column_list</replaceable> ) ]

{ <literal>from</literal> | <literal>to</literal> }

<replaceable class="parameter">filename</replaceable> | stdin | stdout

[ <literal>with</literal> ]

Performs a frontend (client) copy. This is an operation that

runs an <acronym>SQL</acronym> <xref linkend="SQL-COPY"

endterm="SQL-COPY-title"> command, but instead of the backend's

reading or writing the specified file, and consequently

requiring backend access and special user privilege, as well as

being bound to the file system accessible by the backend,

reading or writing the specified file,

<application>psql</application> reads or writes the file and

routes the data between the backend and the local file system.

This means that file accessibility and privileges are those

of the local user, not the server, and no SQL superuser

privileges are required.

</para>

<para>