primary

The .primary command displays primary key information for tables in your connected database. Primary keys identify unique rows in a table and are critical for data integrity.

Usage

.primary [table]

When to use

  • Use .primary to list all primary keys in the database.
  • Specify a table (e.g., .primary users) to see the primary key for that specific table.
  • Use to understand how tables are uniquely identified, which is essential for joins and data integrity.

Examples

Display the primary keys for all tables:

.primary

Display the primary key for the users table:

.primary users

Output

The output includes:

  • Table — the table name
  • Primary Key — the constraint name
  • Columns — the column(s) that make up the primary key
  • Inferred — whether the primary key was declared in the schema or inferred from naming conventions (e.g., a NOT NULL column named id)

Troubleshooting

  • If no primary keys are shown, ensure your database supports primary key metadata and you have the necessary permissions.
  • Some file-based or NoSQL data sources may not support primary keys natively; inferred keys may still be displayed.

Demonstration