Parameter · Preset Options
in_hot_standby
Shows whether hot standby is currently active.
- Default:
off - Type: bool
- Applies: Read-only
In plain words
Shows whether this server is currently a hot standby: a replica that is replaying WAL and allows read-only queries. It changes to off when the standby is promoted to primary.
For DBAs and operators
Added in PostgreSQL 14 and marked GUC_REPORT, so the server pushes it to clients automatically (like server_version). libpq's target_session_attrs=read-only / primary / standby uses it to pick the right host without an extra query. Equivalent to pg_is_in_recovery() while hot standby is enabled.
SHOW in_hot_standby;
SELECT pg_is_in_recovery();
-- connect to whichever host is the primary:
psql "host=db1,db2 dbname=app target_session_attrs=read-write"How to change it
Fixed when PostgreSQL was built or the cluster was initialised. You can only read it.
See it in context
Related parameters
hot_standby default_transaction_read_only transaction_read_only