
The commands

-   ``CREATE_REPLICATION_SLOT _`slot_name`_ LOGICAL _`output_plugin`_``
    
-   ``DROP_REPLICATION_SLOT _`slot_name`_`` \[ `WAIT` \]
    
-   ``START_REPLICATION SLOT _`slot_name`_ LOGICAL ...``
    

are used to create, drop, and stream changes from a replication slot, respectively. These commands are only available over a replication connection; they cannot be used via SQL. See [Section 54.4](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/protocol-replication.html "54.4. Streaming Replication Protocol") for details on these commands.

The command [pg\_recvlogical](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/app-pgrecvlogical.html "pg_recvlogical") can be used to control logical decoding over a streaming replication connection. (It uses these commands internally.)
