Enhancing PostgreSQL with Extensions and Custom Functions

Intermediate

🧩 Extending PostgreSQL with Extensions & User-Defined Functions

PostgreSQL's extensibility allows adding new functionalities via extensions and user-defined functions (UDFs).

🧱 Popular Extensions

🌍 postgis: Geospatial data support
🔐 pg_crypto: Cryptographic functions
⏱️ timescaledb: Time-series data management

➕ Add an Extension

CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS postgis;

🧠 User-Defined Functions (UDFs)

Enable custom operations written in SQL, PL/pgSQL, or other languages.

📐 Example: Factorial Function in PL/pgSQL

CREATE FUNCTION factorial(n INTEGER) RETURNS INTEGER AS $$
BEGIN
  IF n = 0 THEN
    RETURN 1;
  ELSE
    RETURN n * factorial(n - 1);
  END IF;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;

🎯 This flexibility allows tailoring PostgreSQL capabilities to specific application needs, boosting productivity and functionality.