How to Export Schema in PostgreSQL

How do I export only the schema in PostgreSQL using pg_dump?

Exporting a schema copies only the structure—tables, views, functions, and indexes—without data into a .sql file that can be version-controlled or migrated.

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Description

Why export a PostgreSQL schema?

Exporting a schema lets teams version-control database structure, spin up testing environments quickly, migrate between servers, or share the data model with other systems like MySQL.

What is the quickest command to dump only the schema?

Use pg_dump --schema-only (or -s) to exclude rows.This creates a concise .sql file containing CREATE statements for every object in the chosen database or schema.

Which pg_dump options exclude data?

-s or --schema-only discards INSERT statements, while --no-owner and --no-privileges remove ownership and GRANT lines—helpful when restoring to another role.

How to export a single schema?

Combine -n with -s. Example: pg_dump -s -n ecommerce -f ecommerce_schema.sql mydb.Only objects inside the ecommerce schema will be scripted.

How to export multiple schemas?

Repeat -n: pg_dump -s -n public -n audit -f core_schema.sql mydb. Each -n flag adds another schema pattern to include.

How to restore the exported schema file?

Pipe it to psql: psql -d targetdb -f ecommerce_schema.sql. Ensure the target database is empty or object names won’t collide unless you specify --clean during dump.

Can I export and compress in one step?

Yes.Append | gzip > ecommerce_schema.sql.gz.To restore, run gunzip -c ecommerce_schema.sql.gz | psql -d targetdb.

Best practices for schema export

Schedule nightly dumps, include Git in the storage path, store along with application migrations, and automate checksum checks to catch accidental structure drift.

Common mistakes and fixes

Omitting dependent objects: Remember sequences, custom types, and functions are part of the schema; pg_dump includes them automatically when -s is used.

Mixing schema and data: Avoid pg_dump -s -a; these flags cancel each other.Use either schema-only or data-only, not both.

FAQs

Does pg_dump lock tables?

No. pg_dump runs in SERIALIZABLE snapshot mode, so it doesn’t block reads or writes.

Can I export into MySQL format directly?

Not natively. Dump to SQL, then use tools like pgloader or manual editing to adjust datatypes before importing into MySQL.

How large can a schema dump be?

Size depends on object count, not rows, but large function bodies or many indexes can expand the file.Compression typically reduces it 80-90%.

Why How to Export Schema in PostgreSQL is important

How to Export Schema in PostgreSQL Example Usage


-- Suppose 'Customers', 'Orders', 'Products', and 'OrderItems' live in schema 'ecommerce'
-- Export only the schema structure (no data)
pg_dump -s -n ecommerce -f ecommerce_schema.sql salesdb

-- After making changes locally, restore to staging
psql -d stagingdb -f ecommerce_schema.sql

How to Export Schema in PostgreSQL Syntax


pg_dump [-U username] [-h host] [-p port] [--schema-only | -s]
        [--clean] [--if-exists] [--no-owner] [--no-privileges]
        [-n schema_pattern]... [-f output_file] database_name

# Export just the structure of the 'ecommerce' schema
pg_dump -U admin -s -n ecommerce -f ecommerce_schema.sql shopdb

# Compress on the fly
pg_dump -s -n ecommerce shopdb | gzip > ecommerce_schema.sql.gz

# Export multiple schemas (e.g., public and audit)
pg_dump -s -n public -n audit -f core_schema.sql shopdb

# Restore exported schema
psql -U admin -d shopdb_clone -f ecommerce_schema.sql

Common Mistakes

Using both -s (schema-only) and -a (data-only) flags together, which cancels the dump—pick one. Fix: Remove either -s or -a depending on your goal.
Forgetting to include --no-owner when migrating to a different role, causing restore errors. Fix: Add --no-owner and optionally --no-privileges in the dump.