Contrib module
A contrib module is an additional feature provided as part of the source distribution but not enabled by default. These are provided either as extension modules or as additional client or server applications. These are part of the core distribution but not enabled by default, as they either provide niche functionality or are considered experimental, or in some cases used to provide backwards compatibility for features since integrated into the PostgreSQL core.
Installation
Operating systems which provide PostgreSQL as a package generally provide the contrib modules as a subpackage, typically called "postgresql-contrib" or similar.
Source code
The source code for contrib modules can be found in the "contrib/" directory of the PostgreSQL source distribution. None of the contrib modules will be built automatically, unless the "make world" target is used, in which case all contrib modules will be built. Running "make && make install" in the "contrib/" directory will also cause all modules to be built.
Availability matrix
| available in listed version | |
| functionality merged into PostgreSQL core | |
| not available |
Change history
This is an overview of general changes to contrib modules; for details of changes to individual modules, see the respective entry for each module.
- PostgreSQL 13
- Some contrib modules marked as trusted extensions (commit eb67623c)
- PostgreSQL 9.1
- where appropriate, contrib modules converted to extensions (commit 629b3af2)
- PostgreSQL 8.3
- contrib module documentation moved from
READMEfiles to the main documentation (commit c3c69ab4)
- contrib module documentation moved from
- PostgreSQL 8.2
- uninstall scripts added for all contrib modules with install scripts (commit fe83b3eb)
References
- PostgreSQL documentation: Appendix F. Additional Supplied Modules
- PostgreSQL documentation: Appendix G. Additional Supplied Programs
- PostgreSQL documentation: Feature Matrix- Additional Modules (contrib)