PostgreSQL Database Design: Understanding Its Role and Popularity in Database Management

ByNikki James

PostgreSQL is a shining example of dependability, versatility, and innovation in modern database administration. As businesses and organizations deal with ever-increasing amounts of data, knowing the importance and popularity of PostgreSQL database design becomes critical.

Understanding the Role of PostgreSQL in Database Management

Physically, a database consists of files in a certain format. If the database needs to be saved, for example as a backup copy, use a dump (from the English dump – reset). A dump is a file with a database in which all the data is stored, that is, it is simply storage, so it is impossible to work with such a file. To administer the database – load, unload, or change data, you need a database management system (abbr. DBMS).

PostgreSQL is a free and open-source DBMS. With PostgreSQL, you can create, store databases, and work with data using SQL queries.

Advantages of PostgreSQL Database Design

In 2022, PostgreSQL was in fourth place in the global ranking of popular DBMSs. The system has many advantages, we list the main ones:     

  1. Free access

 Any specialist can download and install the DBMS for free and immediately start working with databases. If you place the database and DBMS in cloud storage, you will have to pay.

  1. Can be installed on any platform

 PostgreSQL is suitable for working on any operating system: Linux, macOS, Windows. The user receives the system “out of the box” – no additional tools are needed to install and use the program.   

  1. Supports multiple data formats

PostgreSQL empowers users with diverse data types, including network addresses, JSON, and geographic coordinates. Users can even craft custom data types to streamline operations or enforce constraints. For instance, creating a custom type limits data entry to specified values, ensuring data integrity. In PostgreSQL, this is achieved through simple queries, like creating a custom type for a device only displaying integers from 1 to
5:CREATE TYPE entity_source AS enum(1, 2, 3, 4, 5);

 

With PostgreSQL’s flexibility, users can sculpt databases tailored to their precise needs, enhancing efficiency and reliability in database design.

  1. Allows you to work with large data sizes

PostgreSQL database design boasts limitless scalability, its size dependent on available memory. Tables can reach a maximum of 32 terabytes, ample for giants like Amazon. Individual rows cap at 1.6 terabytes, cells at 1 gigabyte, accommodating diverse data types, even videos. These expansive capacities exceed practical needs, yet offer flexibility for complex data management. Thus, PostgreSQL’s constraints are deemed conditional, providing unparalleled freedom in database design.

  1. Complies with ACID requirements

PostgreSQL database design adheres to the ACID principles: Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability. Atomicity ensures transactions occur wholly or not at all. Consistency mandates transactions only execute if they maintain database integrity. Isolation ensures parallel activities don’t interfere. Durability guarantees that completed transactions persist despite technical issues. For instance, in a money transfer, atomicity ensures the transaction’s completeness, while consistency prevents data corruption. PostgreSQL ensures data integrity, meeting all ACID requirements, and safeguarding against data loss or corruption.

  1. Supports all the functions that are found in modern databases.

PostgreSQL offers advanced features like window functions, nested transactions, and triggers, enhancing database design capabilities. Window functions enable targeted data selection and calculation, such as determining a user’s first site visit date for customer lifetime value analysis in an e-commerce database. Nested transactions facilitate complex transaction management, ensuring consistency and integrity across multiple operations within a single agreement. Triggers automate actions based on specific database events; for instance, a trigger can update related tables when data about a closed company is removed. PostgreSQL’s robust functionality empowers developers to optimize database structures, streamline workflows, and maintain data integrity, making it a preferred choice for innovative database design.

  1. There is a dialect of the SQL language.

In the realm of PostgreSQL database design, about 80% of operations rely on traditional SQL queries. However, PostgreSQL introduces its streamlined queries for certain tasks, simplifying the workflow for developers.

Take, for instance, the conversion of a string ‘365’ to an integer type (int). In conventional SQL, the query appears as follows:

CAST(‘365’ AS int)

Yet, within PostgreSQL’s framework, this query can be succinctly abbreviated to: ‘365’::int. This optimization not only reduces the length of the query but also enhances readability and efficiency, showcasing PostgreSQL’s commitment to facilitating seamless database design.

  1. You can configure synchronous data duplication 

Working with PostgreSQL database design supports logical replication. Replication is the preservation of a copy of a database. The copy may be on another server. With logical replication, any changes are synchronized across all copies of the database, regardless of where they are stored. This means that one version of the database will be stored everywhere.

  1. You can transfer data from another DBMS without loss.

 The volume of data from large companies can be 10 terabytes in size. Transferring them will take time and will interrupt work. Small companies or startups will be able to “move” to PostgreSQL from another DBMS quickly, without losing anything in the process. You can transfer all data using special tools.

In conclusion, PostgreSQL’s prominence in the realm of database management stems from its unparalleled combination of versatility, scalability, and reliability. From its free accessibility to its seamless installation on various platforms, PostgreSQL empowers users to sculpt robust databases tailored to their specific needs. With its adherence to ACID principles, advanced functionality, and streamlined SQL dialect, PostgreSQL remains a cornerstone of modern database design, facilitating innovation and efficiency in data management.