Parameter · Client Connection Defaults / Statement Behavior
xmlbinary
Sets how binary values are to be encoded in XML.
- Default:
base64 - Type: enum
- Values: base64 · hex
- Applies: Session (any user)
In plain words
XML cannot contain raw bytes, so when you put a bytea value into XML (for example with xmlelement), PostgreSQL encodes it as text. This setting picks base64 (default) or hex.
For DBAs and operators
Used by the XML functions (xmlelement, xmlforest, table_to_xml and related mapping functions) when they convert binary values. Both encodings correspond to XML Schema types (xs:base64Binary, xs:hexBinary). Choose what the consumer of the XML expects. It never affects the normal text output of bytea; that is bytea_output.
How to change it
Any user can change it for their session with SET.