What is PostgreSQL Database – Best Relational Database Management System
Overview of PostgreSQL:
PostgreSQL is one of the most popular open source relational database management systems(RDBMS). This type of database is mainly used to store the information related to the website. It is a Web hosting database, stores information such as: blog posts or user information. As it is free of cost still having more features from another database like MySQL. PostgreSQL performs all basic operations also done by other databases like store, retrieve data.
About PostgreSQL:
As PostgreSQL is the world most advanced open source database server. Therefore, in this section we are going to discuss about PostgreSQL, PostgreSQL Server, PostgreSQL Database.
What is PostgreSQL or PostgreSQL Database?
An open source object relational database system is PostgreSQL. This DBMS is also named as Postgres. It is a more powerful database and proven to be a strong in providing reliability, data integrity and correctness. A user can run this database on all popular operating systems such as Linux, Unix, Mac OS X and Windows. PostgreSQL database support all ACID property as other database to ensure data integrity. A user can also store binary large objects such as pictures, video or sounds.
- Supported Data Types: PostgreSQL supports most SQL 2008 data types such as integer, numeric, boolean, char, date, timestamp and varchar.
- Supported Programming Interface: It is having an interface fro some programming languages such as C, C++, Perl, JAVA, Python and many more.
- PostgreSQL Latest Version: The latest available version of this is PostgreSQL 9.5.
According to PostgreSQL Wiki, “PostgreSQL Database is an object relational database management system (ORDBMS), whose main purpose is to store the data in a secure way. It can manage pressure from small machine to large machine.”
What is PostgreSQL Server?
Unlike other databases, PostgreSQL Server is any server, which a user wants to use based on their requirements. MS SQL uses Apache server to provide an interface to users. It is restricted to that only and for Windows users. However, it is not the case with PostgreSQL, a user can use any available server like Apache server, Rackspace server according to their need. PostgreSQL server is independent from the choice of the server also. These qualities of PostgreSQL sever make it stand step ahead of others.
What is PostgreSQL Used for?
PostgreSQL features make users use this DBMS over other available DBMS like My SQL. Most of the users use PostgreSQL rather than MySQL. The properties of why use PostgreSQL and what makes it better from others are mentioned below:
- Protection to Complete Deployment
The main problem which most of the database vendors face is over deployment. Always there are some issues related to licensed database are present. However, in case of PostgreSQL it is not there because it is not having any license cost associated with it. It is a profitable business model with wide-scale deployment. A user can never be audited due to any license agreement.
- Better Performance Than Others
A user can easily compare the performance of PostgreSQL with other databases. It is much faster than others. Its overall performance is usually 10% greater than other. As it is free of cost still having additional features than other databases.
- Reliable PostgreSQL
The primary feature, which every user wants in the database is, the DBMS must be reliable. PostgreSQL is having fully tested code with minimum number of bugs. Before each release it goes under at-least one month of beta testing. All these testings make it a reliable DBMS as compared to others.
- Platform Independent
One of the best feature supported by PostgreSQL is, it is platform independent. A user can run it on any available platform such as Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Unix, etc. A user can use any server as an interface, to connect it to PostgreSQL unlike MS SQL and MySQL.
- Extensible DBMS
The PostgreSQL source code is available free of cost. If anyone wants to extend or customise this PostgreSQL they can do it without any extra cost or efforts. This is also a unique feature provide it, which allow users to extend this DBMS on a daily basis if needed.
Facts About PostgreSQL
The most versatile, reliable and efficient object relational database management system is PostgreSQL. In this section we are going to discuss about the few features of PostgreSQL, which are less known by everyone.
- Allows to create your own data types
Many of the available DBMS does not allow users to create their own database, but it is not the case with PostgreSQL. This allow users to create custom data types according their need and specify what should be store in it and how to stored in it. It supports Out of the box data types also.
- A user can perform an XML query
Nowadays, most of the organizations use XML data. Using this PostgreSQL a user can easily store, retrieve and can perform other operations also on it. A user can perform any XML query on the database, all are supported by PostgreSQL.
- Built-in Streaming Replication Features
Streaming replication is also provided by PostgreSQL. It is not an additional feature, it is built-in feature, which is lesser known by users by PostgreSQL.
Streaming Replication has the ability to transfer and apply Write-Ahead Log continuously to some other server in order to keep them current. - Supports DDL Transaction
In case of any failure like when user is does not able recover from unwanted transaction, PostgreSQL supports DDL commands like Creating and Dropping tables. These Data Definition Language commands allow users to recover from any unwanted transaction.
- Independent from Platform
The most interesting facts about PostgreSQL is it is platform independent. A user can use it on any available platform like Windows, Mac OS X. Moreover, it is not dependent on any server also, a user can use any server based on their need.
Conclusion:
PostgreSQL database is a most popular database management system used by various organizations. After understanding about open source PostgreSQL, we have discussed why users use it more as compared to MS SQL and MY SQL. As it available at no cost still better than other licensed because there are some facts which make it more interesting than other available databases.