Extension
A package of code and SQL objects to extend PostgreSQL functionality
An extension is a package of code and SQL objects to extend PostgreSQL functionality.
Extension support was introduced in PostgreSQL 9.1.
psql
Available extensions can be listed with the slash command \dx; \dx+ lists each extension and its associated objects. See below for examples.
System catalogue objects
Tables
Views
Functions
Contrib modules
Many contrib modules are implemented as extensions.
Suitable existing contrib modules were converted en-mass to extensions in commit 629b3af2.
Change history
- PostgreSQL 13
- concept of "trusted extensions" added (commit 50fc694e)
- PostgreSQL 10
- PostgreSQL 9.1
- many contrib modules converted to extensions (commit 629b3af2)
- added (commit d9572c4e)
Examples
postgres=# \dx
List of installed extensions
Name | Version | Schema | Description
--------------------+---------+------------+-----------------------------------------------------------
pg_stat_statements | 1.7 | public | track execution statistics of all SQL statements executed
plpgsql | 1.0 | pg_catalog | PL/pgSQL procedural language
(2 rows)
postgres=# \dx+
Objects in extension "pg_stat_statements"
Object description
---------------------------------------------------
function pg_stat_statements(boolean)
function pg_stat_statements_reset(oid,oid,bigint)
view pg_stat_statements
(3 rows)
Objects in extension "plpgsql"
Object description
-------------------------------------------
function plpgsql_call_handler()
function plpgsql_inline_handler(internal)
function plpgsql_validator(oid)
language plpgsql
(4 rows)
References
- PostgreSQL documentation: Packaging Related Objects into an Extension
- PostgreSQL documentation: Extension Building Infrastructure
- PostgreSQL documentation: CREATE EXTENSION
- PostgreSQL documentation: ALTER EXTENSION
- PostgreSQL documentation: DROP EXTENSION