Introduction to PostgreSQL
I hope we all are familiar with the term Database. And for interacting with the database what we need is called as SQL( Structured query language).
If you are a software developer or engineer you should know about this database. If you really want to learn this database then you have to make your hands dirty on learning this.
The PostgreSQL is among the most popular databases out there.
The main advantage of PostgreSQL is it is an open source. Also, it is robust in nature with high performance and multitasking. This database also includes lots of features which make it one of the good choices out of all the databases. PostgreSQL has become better with its every release.
A lot of startup companies prefer to use PostgreSQL as a backend for their applications.
What is PostgreSQL?
It is made alive by PostgreSQL Global Development Group, a different group of many companies and individual contributors who made this possible.
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It is mainly run on Linux/Unix platform.
You will find PostgreSQL also known as Postgres. This is an object-relational database management system And it uses SQL (Structured query language) as its main query language.
DBMS is a combination of applications, different utilities, and libraries.
Over the years, there are no.of database management systems out there. The object-relational database specifies large shared databases.
First of all, we Need to, know What is the Actual term for Database?
The database is a system in which we can store our data. Retrieve the data from it. Manipulate the data as well. These systems are mainly maintained by servers in the database. Each application has its own database.
Definition
It is an actual database engine and SQL is a programming language with which we are working to communicate with a database. This is an object-relational database, which means that the relationship between the two tables is maintained. Any database has a table format that is integrated with rows and columns.
Understanding PostgreSQL
It is very easy to learn. Just need to know how exactly it works. And the best way to get an overview by its building blocks. How exactly it behaves.
It supports many data types such as string, numeric, date and time like My SQL. Also, it supports data types for geometric shapes, images, network addresses, bit strings, text searches, and JSON entries, etc.
Architecture of PostgreSQL
In the following diagram, we see there is more than one client requesting a database at the time. And the database is serving these clients efficiently. This helps PostgreSQL to maintain integrity.
The Architecture is based on Client-Server Model:
Why Use PostgreSQL?
It is a very good tool when it comes to integration with other tools. It handles data integrity and complex operations with ease.
- It is very easy to learn.
- It manages data in a relational database.
- It is very robust and powerful.
Key Features of PostgreSQL
- This supports the locking mechanism.
- It has high availability.
- It is free and open source software.
- This is ACID compliant.
- It has the capacity for fault tolerance.
- It also supports image, video, audio storage and also supports graphical data.
- It requires very low maintenance.
- It supports Multi-version concurrency control (MVCC).
- Recovery is high.
- It has user defined data-types.
- Table inheritance.
- It runs on all operating systems.
What Makes PostgreSQL Stand Out?
It is a very old database management system. We can integrate PostgreSQL with any programming language like Java, C, C++, etc. This feature allows defining our own customized functions. The Postgre structured query language is having many features that we could find in other databases.
This is a very old database. So, we can find troubleshooting with this database is easy. Community base for PostgreSQL is very big.
It is flexible to work. It supports user-defined data types with primitive once. Primitive means one which came with the language itself. Postgre Structured query language is one system who implemented multi-version concurrency control (MVCC). Like any other language, PostgreSQL is having its own commands. Usually, a separate database server getting for different projects.
What is the Use of PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL has the following characteristics:
- Sophisticated locking.
- View.
- Foreign key referential integrity.
- Rules.
- Inheritance.
- MVCC (Multiple version concurrency control).
- Subselects.
- Transactions.
- User-defined types.
Following are some of the New Features added in PostgreSQL
- Tablespaces.
- The point in time recovery.
- Ability to alter column types.
- Native Microsoft Windows version.
Who is Using PostgreSQL?
There is no exact count for this. but yes the big companies like Fujitsu, Red Hat, Cisco, Juniper Network, Apple are using it.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Following are the Advantages and Disadvantages of PostgreSQL:
Advantages
- Easy to use.
- Has user-defined data type.
- Open source.
- A lot of community support.
- Make use of Stored procedures.
- It supports ACID i.e. Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability.
Disadvantages
- If we see the architecture of Postgre (Structured query language). in the above diagram, this creates separate service for every client. Which turns into a lot of memory utilization.
- If we do comparison PostgreSQL is not good when it comes to performance.
- It is not much popular than other database management systems.
- This also has a lack of skilled professionals.
- When it comes to speed PostgreSQL is not worthy as compared to other tools.
- Making replication is more complex.
- Installation is not easy for the beginner.
Conclusion
Every system has some drawbacks. Postgre Structured query language also has some. It is a very old system but still in the market and some places it ruins. If you really want to learn PostgreSQL, then first start with SQL.
By learning SQL you will have an idea that how things are working actually. And with SQL you are ready to tackle any database easily.
Recommended Article
This has been a guide to What is PostgreSQL?. Here we have discussed the Definition and Key Features of PostgreSQL along with its Advantages and Disadvantages. You may also look at the following articles to learn more –
