port5432

Port 5432 is the default TCP port used by PostgreSQL for client-server communications. It is a registered port in the IANA Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry and is commonly assigned to PostgreSQL servers.

By default, a PostgreSQL server listens for connections on port 5432 on all available network interfaces. The port value can be configured in the postgresql.conf file (the port setting), and the network interfaces that accept connections are controlled by listen_addresses. Clients connect using a host address and port, and the libpq client library uses 5432 as the default port.

Security considerations are important for this port. Exposing port 5432 directly to the public internet is discouraged. Deployments typically restrict access with firewalls or private networks, or use VPNs or SSH tunnels. PostgreSQL can use SSL/TLS for encrypted connections (enabled with ssl in the server configuration and proper certificate files), and access control is managed through pg_hba.conf.

Multiple PostgreSQL clusters on a single host can run on different ports, such as 5432, 5433, and beyond. The port can be changed in configuration, and in containerized or cloud environments the host port may be mapped to a different container or service port as required.

In practice, 5432 remains the conventional default for PostgreSQL, but administrators can customize ports to fit their security and architectural needs.