sql-log-level

Last updated: January 21, 2026

The --sql-log-level parameter controls the amount of messages that are generated from SQL statements in Liquibase. You can set --sql-log-level to the following values:

- SEVERE (least verbose): Show serious failures that may prevent program execution. - WARNING: Show potential problems for program execution. - INFO: Show informational messages. - FINE (most verbose; formerly DEBUG): Show tracing information of program execution and minor failures. - OFF: Hide all log messages.

If you set --sql-log-level to a particular level, it will show all messages at that level and less verbose levels. For example, setting the SQL log level to SEVERE only shows SEVERE SQL logs, but setting it to FINE shows FINE, INFO, WARNING, and SEVERE SQL logs. The --sql-log-level default value is FINE.

Note: The --log-level property is required for --sql-log-level to operate successfully.

Uses

In Liquibase 4.6.2+, the --sql-log-level parameter lets you set the log level for SQL output that Liquibase generates. This allows you to have different log levels for Liquibase output and the output of the SQL Liquibase runs.

If you don't specify a value for --sql-log-level, all SQL output is generated according to the --log-level parameter.

Syntax

You can set this parameter in the following ways:

Option

Syntax

Liquibase properties file (defaults file)

liquibase.sql.logLevel: <string>

Global flow file argument

globalArgs: { sql-log-level: "<string>" }

Global CLI parameter

liquibase --sql-log-level=<string> update --changelog-file=example-changelog.xml

JVM system property (JAVA_OPTS environment variable)

Unix:

JAVA_OPTS=-Dliquibase.sql.logLevel=<string>

Windows:

JAVA_OPTS=-D"liquibase.sql.logLevel"=<string>

Liquibase environment variable

LIQUIBASE_SQL_LOG_LEVEL=<string>

For more information, see Working with command parameters

Output

The following examples show the Liquibase logs of when you omit the name of the table in your CREATE_TABLE statement. The examples assume that --log-level=SEVERE:

Output

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[2024-05-30 14:36:44] SEVERE [liquibase.changelog] ChangeSet changelog.xml::3::nvoxland encountered an exception.