PostgreSQL

What is PostgreSQL?

PostgreSQL is a powerful, open-source object-relational database with more than 35 years of active development. PostgreSQL is known for its reliability, extensive features and SQL conformance. It is used by Apple, Instagram, Spotify and most modern startups as their primary database.

Why PostgreSQL is useful

PostgreSQL combines the reliability of enterprise databases with the flexibility of open source:

• SQL-standard compliant: The most complete SQL implementation of all open-source databases
• Extensible: Create custom data types, functions, operators and index methods
• JSON + SQL: Store and query JSON data alongside traditional tables
• Enterprise features: Tablespaces, point-in-time recovery, logical replication

Time savings with PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL reduces the need for workarounds thanks to extensive built-in features. Complex queries that require multiple steps in other databases are often a single statement in PostgreSQL.

Hidden features that often go unused

PostgreSQL has a wealth of advanced features that many developers are unaware of:

• CTEs and Window Functions: Complex analytical queries written elegantly.
• Foreign Data Wrappers: Query external data sources (MySQL, MongoDB, CSV) as if they were local tables.
• Row-Level Security: Automatic data isolation per user at the database level.
• LISTEN/NOTIFY: Real-time event notifications built into the database.
• Extensions: PostGIS for geo data, pgvector for AI embeddings, TimescaleDB for time series.
• Parallel Query: Automatic parallelisation of heavy queries across multiple CPU cores.

Integrations with other tools

PostgreSQL integrates with many other tools and services:

• Django & Rails: PostgreSQL is the recommended database for the most popular frameworks.
• Back4App: Parse Server runs on PostgreSQL by default as database backend.
• Kubernetes: Operators such as CloudNativePG for automated management in containers.