Conclusion

Concluding remarks and further reading on PostgreSQL internals, query tuning, and Postgres Pro Enterprise features.

Query optimization is a continuous process that requires ongoing monitoring and tuning. A query that performs optimally today cannot be expected to remain optimal forever: the amount of data in the tables may change, the DBMS or operating system may be upgraded, and the hardware may change. Maintaining high performance requires continuing attention.

This book was conceived as an introduction to query optimization. It introduces the fundamentals of the PostgreSQL planner: access methods, join methods, the use of statistics, and the main approaches to query optimization.

The topics covered here provide a foundation for understanding how the planner works. But do not stop with this book. Follow the changes in every PostgreSQL release and keep extending your knowledge.

Among additional sources, we recommend starting with the official PostgreSQL documentation. The documentation gives concise, precise information from the people who develop PostgreSQL, and it is carefully kept up to date.

Reading the documentation straight through from the first page to the last is difficult and often unnecessary. Logically related information is frequently spread across different chapters. This is one reason we create training courses: each course presents a particular subject less exhaustively than the complete documentation, but in a coherent and understandable sequence.

If you want to continue studying PostgreSQL, take a look at our other courses:

DBA1. PostgreSQL Administration. Basic Course, covering the server architecture, installation, basic configuration, and administration;
DBA2. PostgreSQL Administration. Configuration and Monitoring, including server upgrades, localization, and extension management;
DBA3. PostgreSQL Administration. Backup and Replication, including an introduction to cluster architectures;
DBS. PostgreSQL Administration. Access Control, including authentication and integration with external authentication systems;
DEV1. PostgreSQL Backend Development. Basic Course, covering server-side programming in SQL and PL/pgSQL;
DEV2. PostgreSQL Backend Development. Advanced Course, covering more advanced ways to implement application logic on the server;
PGPRO.Postgres Pro Enterprise Features, covering the capabilities that distinguish our company’s product from the community PostgreSQL DBMS.