# pg_ctl

> Utility for controlling a PostgreSQL server and database cluster.
> More information: <https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/app-pg-ctl.html>.

- Initialize a new PostgreSQL database cluster:

`pg_ctl {{[-D|--pgdata]}} {{data_directory}} init`

- Start a PostgreSQL server:

`pg_ctl {{[-D|--pgdata]}} {{data_directory}} start`

- Stop a PostgreSQL server:

`pg_ctl {{[-D|--pgdata]}} {{data_directory}} stop`

- Restart a PostgreSQL server:

`pg_ctl {{[-D|--pgdata]}} {{data_directory}} restart`

- Reload the PostgreSQL server configuration:

`pg_ctl {{[-D|--pgdata]}} {{data_directory}} reload`
