Definition
PostgreSQL is an advanced open-source relational database management system, often used for handling online transactions and data warehousing. It supports advanced SQL functionalities like stored procedures and triggers, along with support for JSON and XML data. Highly extensible and compliant with standards, it can run on various operating systems such as Linux, UNIX, and Windows.
Phonetic
The phonetics of “PostgreSQL” is: /ˈpoʊstɡres ˌkjuː ɛl/ or in simplified English: “Post-gres-cue-ell”.
Key Takeaways
- PostgreSQL is a powerful, open-source object-relational database system. It provides strong standards compliance, transactional integrity, and scalability which makes it a popular choice for businesses and developers looking for a robust and reliable data management solution.
- PostgreSQL offers numerous advanced features such as Multi-Version Concurrency Control (MVCC) for supporting multiple transactions, an extensible and highly customizable system for multiple data types, and supports full-text search natively. It also provides support for functions, stored procedures, and triggers, helping the developers to follow the business logic quite effectively.
- Despite its powerful features, PostgreSQL is entirely free to download, use, and extend. The PostgreSQL Global Development group, a highly diverse and experienced group of volunteers around the world, maintain it. Thus, ensuring that any required updates or security patches are implemented quickly and efficiently.
Importance
PostgreSQL is an important technology term as it refers to one of the most advanced, robust, and reliable open-source database systems. It is globally recognized and widely used due to its capability to handle extensive volumes of data and its powerful performance. PostgreSQL supports a broad range of data types and offers robust data integrity and concurrent sessions, providing valuable benefits to developers and businesses. With its advanced functions including Multi-Version Concurrency Control (MVCC), point in time recovery, and stored procedures, PostgreSQL enhances data management and applications’ performance. Its compatibility and extensibility also enable it to work with various operating systems, programming languages, and middleware, making it a key component in the tech industry.
Explanation
PostgreSQL is a powerful, advanced technology tool known for its open-source object-relational database system. Given that it uses and extends SQL language, it’s employed by developers for managing data and creating new applications. This particular system stands out due to its proven architecture, reliability, data integrity, robust feature set, extensibility, and the dedication of the open source community behind the software itself to continuously develop and enhance its features and performance.In terms of its specific uses, PostgreSQL is leveraged across multiple industries and in numerous varied applications. A critical aspect of this technology lies in its immense capacity for managing and organizing data in a structured manner. For example, large corporations utilize it to store and scale important data or web stores and services use it to manage, search, and analyze data in real time. Other uses involve complex custom solutions, such as geospatial databases or customer relationship management systems. Its ability to efficiently manage vast datasets makes it a first choice for enterprises where data is a critical part of their operations.
Examples
1. Apple Inc: Apple, a multinational technology company, uses PostgreSQL as the main database solution in its iTunes infrastructure to handle tens of millions of writes and reads per day. Apple reportedly chose it for its resilience, robustness, and scalability features. 2. Fujitsu: The information technology equipment and services company, Fujitsu, uses PostgreSQL for several of its internal functions. For instance, Fujitsu utilizes Postgres to manage and analyze their data of the Point of Sales (PoS) terminals in its supermarkets and department stores.3. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): FAA, the agency regulating and overseeing all aspects of civil aviation in the United States, uses PostgreSQL for its database management. The FAA has chosen Postgres to be part of its modernization plan because of its capability to handle complex queries and large amounts of data.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
**Q1: What is PostgreSQL?** A1: PostgreSQL is a powerful, free, open-source relational database management system that emphasizes extensibility and technical standards compliance. It can handle workloads ranging from small single-machine applications to large internet-facing applications with many concurrent users.**Q2: How is PostgreSQL different from other SQL databases like MySQL?** A2: PostgreSQL is fully ACID compliant, fully supports foreign keys, joins, views, triggers, and stored procedures. It also includes most SQL:2008 data types and has more advanced features such as transactional integrity and multiversion concurrency control.**Q3: Is PostgreSQL free to use?** A3: Yes, PostgreSQL is free. It is an open-source project, managed by a diverse group of individuals and corporations worldwide.**Q4: What operating systems support PostgreSQL?** A4: PostgreSQL works on a wide range of operating systems, including Linux, Windows, FreeBSD, Solaris, and MacOS.**Q5: What does ACID mean in relation to PostgreSQL?**A5: ACID stands for Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability. It’s a collection of properties that guarantee database transactions are processed reliably.**Q6: How secure is PostgreSQL?**A6: PostgreSQL includes a robust security model with strong access-control mechanisms, views and rules to shield the internal workings of a database, and SSL for secure communication.**Q7: Can I integrate PostgreSQL with other languages?**A7: Absolutely. PostgreSQL interfaces with many programming languages including C/C++, Java, .Net, Perl, Python, Ruby, Tcl, ODBC.**Q8: Does PostgreSQL support NoSQL?**A8: Yes, PostgreSQL supports structured and unstructured data allowing it to manage a wide variety of NoSQL workloads.**Q9: How can I contribute to PostgreSQL?**A9: You can contribute to PostgreSQL by providing bug reports, writing code, helping with testing and quality assurance, providing funds and resources, writing documentation, or helping with translations. **Q10: How do I get started with PostgreSQL?**A10: You can download PostgreSQL from its official website and go through the installation guide. There are also plenty of online tutorials and courses to help you get started.
Related Tech Terms
- Database Management System (DBMS)
- Relational Database
- Structured Query Language (SQL)
- Data Wrangling
- Open-Source Software
