How can I get a Postgresql error number in psql?

Question

How can I access the numeric code of an error in psql?

For example, in this case I would like to get the value 23503 ("foreign_key_violation") as documented here: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/errcodes-appendix.html

postgres=# insert into t values('bb');
ERROR:  insert or update on table "t" violates foreign key constraint "fd"

-- How can I see the numeric error code here?

Answer 1

You can set the VERBOSITY special variable to sqlstate, which will cause the SQLSTATE code to be printed after any failed statement in the current session:

\set VERBOSITY sqlstate

Alternatively, you can print the SQLSTATE code on demand:

\echo :LAST_ERROR_SQLSTATE

Answer 2

mustaccio's answer is good, but if all that you need is to see the SQLSTATE of the error you just got in psql, the simplest way is to run

\errverbose

Note that the SQLSTATE is not always a number.