A Journey Through Key Features in Each Version of PostgreSQL
Tags: postgres, postgressql, database, apacheage
Published: 2023-08-07 19:21:26

Powerful open-source relational database management system PostgreSQL, sometimes known as Postgres, has seen constant development since its foudation in the 1980s. PostgreSQL adds cutting-edge innovations and upgrades that increase its functionality, speed, and usability with every new release. In this blog post, we'll go over the main characteristics of each major release of PostgreSQL while highlighting the turning points in its history.

###PostgreSQL Version Series 9.x:

The 9.x series of PostgreSQL was a pivotal development in the development of the database system. Key elements that were introduced during this time include:

####1. 	Support for JSON and JSONB:

PostgreSQL 9.2 included native support for JSON data types, making it possible to store and query JSON documents effectively. When PostgreSQL 9.4 was released, JSONB, a binary representation of JSON data with better speed, was introduced.

####2. 	Index Improvements:

Version 9.2 added index-only scans, enabling queries to extract data straight from indexes without contacting the primary table. Performance of queries is substantially enhanced by this feature.

####3. 	Parallel Query:

With the introduction of parallel query execution in PostgreSQL 9.6, the database was able to use several CPU cores to process complicated queries more quickly.
 
###PostgreSQL Version 10:

PostgreSQL 10 carried on the trend of innovation by introducing several standout features:
 
####1. 	Native Partitioning:

Declarative table partitioning was included in this release, enabling huge tables to be broken up into smaller, easier-to-maintain chunks.

####2. 	Logical Replication:

With the addition of logical replication capability in PostgreSQL 10, it is now possible to selectively replicate database changes between servers. This feature is important for data warehousing and other scenarios.

####3. 	Improved Query Performance:

Quorum commit for synchronous replication was included in this version, which improved the speed of synchronous replication systems.

###PostgreSQL Version 11:

PostgreSQL 11 improved upon existing features and added new ones:
 
####1. 	Stored Procedures:

Procedure support was implemented in this release, enabling programmers to put business logic within the database.

####2. 	Just-In-Time (JIT) Compilation:

PostgreSQL 11 introduces JIT compilation to speed up query execution, which is especially useful for complicated queries.

####3. 	Transactions and Durability:

This release's enhancements increased the efficiency of managing transactions and the durability of data.

###PostgreSQL Version 12:

PostgreSQL 12 expanded on the basis built by its predecessors:

####1. 	Partitioning Enhancements:

This release improved partitioned table performance, resulting in them more effective in handling massive datasets.

####2. 	B-tree Index Improvements:

PostgreSQL 12 enhanced B-tree index management, resulting in faster query performance and lower storage needs.

####3. 	Generated Columns:

Developers can now define columns that are dynamically calculated from other columns in the same table using generated columns.


**NOTE**: Continue learning about further versions in [next blog](https://dev.to/salarzaisuhaib/a-journey-through-key-features-in-each-version-of-postgresql-continue-328j).