In PostgreSQL, indexes on expressions (also known as “functional indexes”) allow you to create an index not just on a column but on the result of an expression or function applied to a column (or multiple columns). This can significantly improve query performance when the same expression is used frequently in queries, especially for complex calculations or transformations.
Continue readingTag: what is
Prepared Statements in PostgreSQL: A Complete Guide
Prepared statements are a feature in PostgreSQL that can improve performance and security when executing repetitive SQL queries.
By creating a prepared statement, the server can parse and plan the query once and reuse it multiple times, leading to faster execution. Prepared statements also help in preventing SQL injection attacks by safely handling user input.
In this article, we’ll explore prepared statements in PostgreSQL, discuss how to create and use them, and cover other important considerations such as query planning and cleaning up statements.
Continue readingUnderstanding Partial Indexes in PostgreSQL
Adding indexes to a table is a well established practice for speeding up regular queries in relational databases such as PostgreSQL. While they can do wonders for query performance, indexes can also take up a lot of disk space.
Today we’re going to be looking at a particular type of index that can help reduce the impact on disk space, and query performance – the partial index.
Continue readingClustered vs Nonclustered Index: What’s the Difference?
Indexes can play a crucial role in optimizing SQL query performance. A well designed index can help a query perform much faster than it otherwise might. While there are many types of indexes, two common index types are clustered and nonclustered indexes.
Understanding the difference between clustered and nonclustered indexes can have a significant impact on our database design and query optimization strategies.
In this article, we’ll take a look at clustered and nonclustered indexes as implemented in SQL Server, explore their characteristics, and examine when to use each type.
Continue readingWhat is an ER Diagram?
An entity relationship (ER) diagram (also known as an ERD for Entity-Relationship Diagram) is a visual representation of the relationships between entities within a system. ER Diagrams are often used when designing relational databases. An ERD serves as a blueprint for designing a database by depicting entities, their attributes, and the relationships between them.
ER diagrams help in conceptualizing the structure of a database and serve as a communication tool between database designers, developers, and stakeholders.
Continue readingUnderstanding the CONTINUE Keyword in SQL Server WHILE Loops
WHILE loops are a fundamental construct in T-SQL (and in programming in general) for executing repetitive tasks. Within these loops, the CONTINUE keyword serves as a powerful control flow tool, allowing developers to skip iterations and optimise loop execution.
This article explores the usage and benefits of the CONTINUE keyword in SQL Server WHILE loops.
Indexed Views in SQL Server: A Complete Guide
Indexed views can significantly enhance the performance of complex queries in SQL Server. However, they come with several prerequisites and considerations that need to be carefully understood before implementation.
In this article, I provide an overview of indexed views, discussing their utility, prerequisites, and best practices, along with performance considerations and a simple example.
Continue readingWhat Does Deterministic Mean in SQL?
In SQL, a deterministic expression or function always returns the same result when given the same input. Conversely, a nondeterministic expression or function may return different results even with the same input due to factors like system time, randomization, or external data changes.
Below is a quick overview of the differences between deterministic and nondeterministic functions/expressions.
Continue readingHow SQL Constraints Work: A Beginner’s Overview
Constraints are an important concept in relational database management systems (RDBMSs). Whenever we design a database, we need to ensure that it will be able to enforce data integrity, by checking or restricting what the user can enter to only data that conforms to the rules of the database. That’s where a constraint can help.
This article explores what SQL constraints are, the various types available, their importance, and how they are implemented.
Continue readingImplementing ON UPDATE CASCADE for SQL Server Foreign Keys
ON UPDATE CASCADE is a referential integrity constraint option that we can use in SQL Server when creating foreign keys. It automatically updates foreign key values in child tables when the corresponding primary key in the parent table is updated.