PostgreSQL for Developers

Develop the ability to work with PostgreSQL’s advanced data types, including composite, array, and JSON types. Perform precise data type conversion for greater control over query results. Explore enhanced GROUP BY features such as ROLLUP, CUBE, and GROUPING SETS to produce multi-dimensional summaries. Apply ranking functions, NTILE, and WIDTH_BUCKET to segment and rank data effectively. Use window functions with ROWS or RANGE specifications to analyse data trends and comparisons over defined partitions. 

Extend SQL with procedural logic by creating maintainable PL/pgSQL code structures. Learn to declare and initialise variables, use constants, and perform conditional branching with IF/THEN and CASE statements. Implement iterative processing using LOOP, WHILE, and FOR constructs, including nested and labelled loops for complex workflows. Incorporate DML statements directly within PL/pgSQL blocks and generate output for monitoring and debugging. 

Apply structured error handling to improve code reliability. Use the EXCEPTION clause to manage system-generated and user-defined errors, and handle different exception types with precision. Implement transaction control using COMMIT, ROLLBACK, and SAVEPOINT to ensure data consistency. Understand how to work within PostgreSQL’s multi-version concurrency control (MVCC) framework and adjust isolation levels to balance performance with data integrity. 

Learn when to use cursors for processing large or complex result sets. Use both implicit and explicit cursors, and manage their lifecycle with DECLARE, OPEN, FETCH, and CLOSE statements. Work with parameterised cursors and refcursors for flexible query execution. Apply the CURSOR FOR loop for streamlined row-by-row operations and use WHERE CURRENT OF clauses to update or delete specific rows during iteration.