How Do You Create a Read-Only User in Postgresql?

How Do You Create a Read-Only User in Postgresql?

I'd like to create a user in PostgreSQL that can only do SELECTs from a particular database. In MySQL the command would be:

GRANT SELECT ON mydb.* TO 'xxx'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'yyy';

What is the equivalent command or series of commands in PostgreSQL?

I tried...

postgres=# CREATE ROLE xxx LOGIN PASSWORD 'yyy';
postgres=# GRANT SELECT ON DATABASE mydb TO xxx;

But it appears that the only things you can grant on a database are CREATE, CONNECT, TEMPORARY, and TEMP.

12 Answers

Grant usage/select to a single table

If you only grant CONNECT to a database, the user can connect but has no other privileges. You have to grant USAGE on namespaces (schemas) and SELECT on tables and views individually like so:

GRANT CONNECT ON DATABASE mydb TO xxx;
-- This assumes you're actually connected to mydb..
GRANT USAGE ON SCHEMA public TO xxx;
GRANT SELECT ON mytable TO xxx;
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