# SHOW

SHOW commands provide a short form of server introspection. Use the corresponding system tables when the result needs a filter, projection or ordering.

## Syntax

```text
SHOW DATABASES
SHOW TABLES
SHOW SETTINGS
SHOW SYSTEM TABLES
```

## Available results

| Command              | Scope                                                        |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `SHOW DATABASES`     | Registered server databases; no database selection required. |
| `SHOW TABLES`        | Tables and views in the selected database.                   |
| `SHOW SETTINGS`      | Effective settings of the selected database.                 |
| `SHOW SYSTEM TABLES` | Available system relations; no database selection required.  |

`SHOW TABLES` and `SHOW SETTINGS` require a selected database. Server SHOW commands do not take a `FORMAT` clause. Query `system.databases`, `system.tables`, `system.settings` or `system.system_tables` for formatted SQL results.

## Example

### Listing system relations

```sql
SHOW SYSTEM TABLES;
```

```text
┌─schema_name─┬─table_name────┐
│ system      │ columns       │
│ system      │ databases     │
│ system      │ formats       │
│ system      │ functions     │
│ system      │ processes     │
│ system      │ query_log     │
│ system      │ settings      │
│ system      │ system_tables │
│ system      │ tables        │
└─────────────┴───────────────┘
(9 rows)
```