PostgreSQL, often simply called “Postgres,” is a powerful, open-source object-relational database management system (ORDBMS) known for its reliability, feature richness, and adherence to standards. It’s a versatile database choice suitable for everything from small personal projects to large-scale enterprise applications. But What Is Postgresql that makes it so popular? Let’s dive in.
PostgreSQL’s history stretches back to 1986, originating from the POSTGRES project at the University of California, Berkeley. Over 35 years of continuous development by a dedicated open-source community have honed its core platform. This long history has resulted in a proven architecture celebrated for its reliability, data integrity, a comprehensive feature set, extensibility, and consistent delivery of high-performance, innovative solutions.
PostgreSQL is compatible with all major operating systems and has been ACID-compliant since 2001. Its capabilities are further enhanced by powerful add-ons like PostGIS, a popular geospatial database extender. It’s no surprise PostgreSQL has become the preferred open-source relational database for individuals and organizations alike.
The PostgreSQL elephant logo, affectionately known as “Slonik,” symbolizing the database’s robust and reliable nature.
Why Choose PostgreSQL?
PostgreSQL offers a wealth of features for developers building applications, administrators safeguarding data integrity and establishing fault-tolerant environments, and anyone managing data, regardless of its scale. Beyond being free and open source, PostgreSQL is exceptionally extensible. You can define custom data types, create tailored functions, and even integrate code written in various programming languages without recompiling the database.
PostgreSQL aims to adhere to the SQL standard whenever compatibility doesn’t compromise traditional features or lead to suboptimal architectural choices. Many SQL standard features are supported, sometimes with slight variations in syntax or function. Future versions are expected to move toward even greater conformity. As of the version 16 release in September 2023, PostgreSQL meets at least 170 of the 177 mandatory features for SQL:2023 Core conformance. Notably, currently, no relational database fully conforms to this standard.
Here’s a glimpse into PostgreSQL’s extensive feature set, continually expanding with each major release:
Data Types
PostgreSQL offers a rich set of data types to suit various needs:
- Primitives: Integer, Numeric, String, Boolean
- Structured: Date/Time, Array, Range / Multirange, UUID
- Document: JSON/JSONB, XML, Key-value (Hstore)
- Geometry: Point, Line, Circle, Polygon
- Customizations: Composite, Custom Types
Data Integrity
Ensuring data accuracy and consistency is paramount:
- UNIQUE, NOT NULL constraints
- Primary Keys
- Foreign Keys
- Exclusion Constraints
- Explicit Locks, Advisory Locks
Concurrency and Performance
PostgreSQL provides mechanisms for handling multiple concurrent operations efficiently:
- Indexing: B-tree, Multicolumn, Expressions, Partial
- Advanced Indexing: GiST, SP-Gist, KNN Gist, GIN, BRIN, Covering indexes, Bloom filters
- Sophisticated query planner/optimizer, index-only scans, multicolumn statistics
- Transactions, Nested Transactions (via savepoints)
- Multi-Version Concurrency Control (MVCC)
- Parallelization of read queries and building B-tree indexes
- Table partitioning
- All transaction isolation levels defined in the SQL standard, including Serializable
- Just-in-time (JIT) compilation of expressions
Reliability and Disaster Recovery
Protecting against data loss and ensuring availability is crucial:
- Write-Ahead Logging (WAL)
- Replication: Asynchronous, Synchronous, Logical
- Point-in-Time Recovery (PITR), active standbys
- Tablespaces
Security
PostgreSQL incorporates robust security features to protect your data:
- Authentication: GSSAPI, SSPI, LDAP, SCRAM-SHA-256, Certificate, and more
- Robust access-control system
- Column and row-level security
- Multi-factor authentication with certificates and an additional method
Extensibility
Tailor PostgreSQL to your specific requirements:
- Stored functions and procedures
- Procedural Languages: PL/pgSQL, Perl, Python, and Tcl. Other languages are accessible via extensions, including Java, JavaScript (V8), R, Lua, and Rust
- SQL/JSON constructors, query functions, path expressions, and JSON_TABLE
- Foreign data wrappers: connect to other databases or streams with a standard SQL interface
- Customizable storage interface for tables
- Numerous extensions offering additional functionalities, including PostGIS.
Internationalization and Text Search
Support for global data and efficient text searching:
- Support for international character sets, e.g., through ICU collations
- Case-insensitive and accent-insensitive collations
- Full-text search
The PostgreSQL documentation offers a wealth of information on these features and more. Moreover, PostgreSQL is highly extensible, with defined APIs for features such as indexes, allowing you to customize it to tackle your specific challenges.
PostgreSQL’s scalability is well-established, both in terms of the volume of data it can handle and the number of concurrent users it can support. Active PostgreSQL clusters manage many terabytes of data in production environments, with specialized systems handling petabytes.
Where to Learn More
Your first stop for PostgreSQL questions should be its comprehensive documentation, which provides in-depth usage guidance.
You can also connect and engage with the vibrant community through the many mailing lists available. There are also numerous events and local user groups for networking with fellow PostgreSQL users.
Real-World Endorsements
“By default, PostgreSQL is probably the most security-aware database available …”
Database Hacker’s Handbook
“Postgres is a truly awesome database. When we started working on Launchpad I wasn’t sure if it would be up to the job. I was so wrong. It’s been robust, fast, and professional in every regard.”
Mark Shuttleworth, Ubuntu Linux
“We have normally had a fix within 24 hours. Frankly, the [mailing list] support has been amazing.”
Kevin Grittner, Wisconsin Court System
“We are very strong supporters of technical innovation and creativity, virtues embraced by the PostgreSQL community and open source developers in general. We also like to keep abreast of bleeding-edge technological advancements, and believe that PostgreSQL is the frontrunner in the open source database marketplace.”
Neil Whitney, Vice President, Development, Varicent
“Skype has been using PostgreSQL as the main DB for most of our business needs right from the start.”
Hannu Krosing, Skype
PostgreSQL by the Numbers
Let’s look at some statistics that highlight the project’s scope and impact:
35+ Years of Development
A timeline icon visually emphasizing PostgreSQL’s extensive history and continuous improvement.
700+ Contributors
An icon representing a group of people, symbolizing the collaborative effort of the PostgreSQL community.
59,000+ Commits
A code commit icon highlighting the significant number of contributions to the PostgreSQL codebase.
70+ Local User Groups
A map pin icon indicating the global presence of PostgreSQL user groups, facilitating local community engagement.
1,700,000+ Lines of C
An icon representing lines of code, underscoring the substantial size and complexity of the PostgreSQL codebase.
700+ Events
A calendar icon signifying the numerous events held within the PostgreSQL community, promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration.
Millions of Happy Users
A happy user icon representing the vast and satisfied user base of PostgreSQL, attesting to its usability and effectiveness.
∞ Data Stored
The infinity symbol representing PostgreSQL’s ability to handle virtually unlimited amounts of data, showcasing its scalability.
In conclusion, what is PostgreSQL? It’s more than just a database; it’s a robust, feature-rich, and community-driven platform that empowers developers and organizations to manage their data effectively and reliably. Its open-source nature, extensibility, and adherence to standards make it a compelling choice for a wide range of applications. Whether you’re building a small web application or managing a large enterprise database, PostgreSQL is a database worth considering.
