PostgreSQL Tutorials

PostgreSQL Tutorials Roadmap

Section 1: Introduction to PostgreSQL

  • What is PostgreSQL?
    • A powerful, open-source object-relational database system.
    • Known for its reliability, feature richness, and standards compliance.
  • Why Learn PostgreSQL?
    • Widely used in web applications, data warehousing, and geospatial data.
    • Strong support for complex data types and advanced features.
    • Active community and excellent documentation.
  • Database Concepts Review:
    • Relational model, tables, rows, columns.
    • Primary keys, foreign keys.
    • Normalization.
  • Setting up Your Environment:
    • Installing PostgreSQL.
    • Using command-line tools (psql).
    • Using graphical tools (pgAdmin).
    • Connecting to the database.

Section 2: SQL Fundamentals (Structured Query Language)

  • Introduction to SQL:
    • The standard language for interacting with relational databases.
    • DML (Data Manipulation Language), DDL (Data Definition Language), DCL (Data Control Language), TCL (Transaction Control Language).
  • Data Retrieval (SELECT):
    • Selecting columns and rows.
    • Filtering data with WHERE clause.
    • Sorting data with ORDER BY.
    • Limiting results (LIMIT and OFFSET).
  • Data Manipulation (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE):
    • Adding new data.
    • Modifying existing data.
    • Removing data.
    • Using RETURNING clause.
  • Working with Data Types:
    • Common PostgreSQL data types (INT, VARCHAR, TEXT, BOOLEAN, DATE, TIMESTAMP, NUMERIC, etc.).
    • JSON and JSONB data types.
    • Array data types.
  • Functions:
    • Single-row functions (string, numeric, date/time, type casting).
    • Aggregate functions (AVG, SUM, COUNT, MAX, MIN).
  • Grouping Data:
    • GROUP BY clause.
    • Filtering groups with HAVING clause.
  • Joining Tables:
    • Inner joins, outer joins (LEFT, RIGHT, FULL).
    • Cross joins.
    • Self joins.
  • Subqueries:
    • Single-row, multiple-row, multiple-column subqueries.
    • Correlated subqueries.
  • Set Operators:
    • UNION, UNION ALL, INTERSECT, EXCEPT.
  • Common Table Expressions (CTEs):
    • Using the WITH clause for reusable subqueries.
    • Recursive CTEs.

Section 3: Database Objects and Schema Management

  • Creating and Managing Tables:
    • CREATE TABLE, ALTER TABLE, DROP TABLE.
    • Constraints (PRIMARY KEY, FOREIGN KEY, UNIQUE, NOT NULL, CHECK).
    • Default values.
  • Indexes:
    • Understanding indexes and their purpose.
    • Creating and dropping indexes (B-tree, Hash, GiST, GIN).
  • Views:
    • Creating and using views.
    • Updatable views.
  • Sequences:
    • Creating and using sequences for generating unique numbers.
  • Schemas:
    • Organizing database objects.
    • Creating and managing schemas.
  • Domains:
    • Creating custom data types with constraints.

Section 4: Transaction Management and Concurrency

  • Understanding Transactions:
    • ACID properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability).
  • Transaction Control Language (TCL):
    • COMMIT, ROLLBACK, SAVEPOINT.
  • Isolation Levels:
    • Understanding different isolation levels (Read Committed, Repeatable Read, Serializable).
  • Locking:
    • Understanding different types of locks.
    • Dealing with deadlocks.

Section 5: Introduction to PL/pgSQL (Procedural Language/PostgreSQL)

  • What is PL/pgSQL?
    • PostgreSQL's procedural language.
    • Allows for programming logic within the database.
  • PL/pgSQL Block Structure:
    • DECLARE, BEGIN, EXCEPTION, END.
  • Variables and Data Types:
    • Declaring variables.
    • PL/pgSQL data types.
  • Control Structures:
    • Conditional statements (IF, CASE).
    • Loops (LOOP, WHILE, FOR).
  • Cursors:
    • Implicit and explicit cursors.
    • Processing multiple rows.
  • Error Handling:
    • Using the EXCEPTION section.
    • Handling specific exceptions.

Section 6: Stored Procedures and Functions

  • Creating and Executing Functions:
    • Reusable blocks of PL/pgSQL code.
    • Returning values (scalar, table).
  • Creating and Executing Procedures:
    • Newer feature for transactional logic.
  • Using Functions in SQL Statements:
    • Scalar functions in SELECT, WHERE, etc.
    • Table-returning functions.

Section 7: Triggers

  • Understanding Triggers:
    • PL/pgSQL blocks that execute automatically in response to database events (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, TRUNCATE).
  • Types of Triggers:
    • Row-level and statement-level triggers.
    • BEFORE, AFTER, and INSTEAD OF triggers.
  • Creating and Managing Triggers:
    • CREATE TRIGGER, ALTER TRIGGER, DROP TRIGGER.

Section 8: Database Administration Basics (DBA)

  • User and Role Management:
    • Creating users (CREATE USER).
    • Creating roles (CREATE ROLE).
    • Granting and revoking privileges (GRANT, REVOKE).
  • Database and Schema Privileges:
    • Controlling access to database objects.
  • Storage Management:
    • Understanding tablespaces.
  • Backup and Recovery (Introduction):
    • Logical backups (pg_dump).
    • Physical backups.
    • Point-in-Time Recovery (PITR) overview.
  • Performance Tuning (Introduction):
    • Using EXPLAIN and EXPLAIN ANALYZE to understand query execution.
    • Basic tuning techniques (indexing, query rewriting).
  • Monitoring:
    • Basic monitoring of database activity.

Section 9: Advanced PostgreSQL Features

  • Window Functions:
    • Performing calculations across a set of table rows related to the current row.
    • Analytic functions (RANK, DENSE_RANK, ROW_NUMBER, etc.).
    • Aggregate window functions.
  • JSON and JSONB Data Types:
    • Storing and querying JSON data.
    • JSON functions and operators.
  • Array Data Types:
    • Storing arrays of values in a single column.
    • Array functions and operators.
  • Full-Text Search:
    • Indexing and searching text data.
  • PostGIS (Geospatial Extension - Overview):
    • Storing and querying geographic data.
  • Foreign Data Wrappers (FDW):
    • Accessing data from external data sources.
  • Extensions:
    • Understanding and using PostgreSQL extensions.

Section 10: Working with Applications and Other Technologies

  • Connecting to PostgreSQL from Applications:
    • Using database drivers for different programming languages (Python, Node.js, Java, PHP, etc.).
  • Integration with ORMs:
    • Using Object-Relational Mappers (e.g., SQLAlchemy, TypeORM, Doctrine) with PostgreSQL.

Section 11: Further Learning and Specialization

  • Performance Tuning (Deep Dive):
    • Analyzing query plans in detail.
    • Vacuuming and autovacuum.
    • Understanding the PostgreSQL planner.
  • High Availability and Replication:
    • Streaming replication.
    • Logical replication.
    • Connection pooling (pgBouncer).
  • Database Security:
    • Authentication methods.
    • Row-Level Security (RLS).
  • Cloud Database Services:
    • Managed PostgreSQL services (AWS RDS, Google Cloud SQL, Azure Database for PostgreSQL).
  • PostgreSQL Certification (if available/relevant).
  • Resources for Continued Learning:
    • Official PostgreSQL Documentation (postgresql.org/docs).
    • PostgreSQL Wiki.
    • Online courses and training providers.
    • Community forums and user groups.