How to Speed Up PostgreSQL Queries With Partitions

Updated on November 12, 2023

Introduction

PostgreSQL database performance is a key factor that is directly affected when querying data from large tables. To reduce memory swaps and table scans, PostgreSQL partitions allow you to split data into smaller manageable tables to speed up queries. This architecture improves your database reliability and overall performance.

Partitions store a specific group of data depending on the criteria specified when creating the database schema. Mainly, PostgreSQL allows you to partition data based on the date range, lists, or a hash derived from a mathematical formula. This article explains the different types of PostgreSQL partitions, their advantages, and how to implement them on a Vultr Managed Database for PostgreSQL.

Prerequisites

Deploy a Vultr Managed Database for PostgreSQL
Deploy a Linux Server on Vultr to use as the management machine
Using SSH, access the server
Create a non-root Sudo user and switch to the account
Update the server

Create a Sample Database

Install the PostgreSQL client tool psql

On Ubuntu/Debian Systems:

  $ sudo apt install -y postgresql-client

CentOS and RHEL-based Systems:
```
  $ sudo yum install postgresql
```
Fedora Linux:
```
  $ sudo dnf install postgresql
```

Using psql, log in to your Vultr Managed Database for PostgreSQL. Replace sample-host.vultrdb.com, 16761, vultradmin with you actual database details
```
 $ psql -h sample-host.vultrdb.com -p 16751 -U vultradmin defaultdb
```

Create a new sample database company_db

 defaultdb=> CREATE DATABASE company_db;

Switch to the database

 postgres=# \c company_db;

Output:

 You are now connected to database "company_db" as user "vultradmin".
 company_db=>

PostgreSQL Partitions and Benefits

In PostgreSQL, partitions split data into smaller manageable tables using user-specified conditions. These table partitions offer the following benefits when implemented:

Improved query performance: You can generate date-based or column-based reports from a dataset by only querying a specific partition. The query runs faster because it doesn't scan the entire base table
Improved data availability: Partition-based queries narrow a search to a specific partition. This approach allows PostgreSQL to cache frequently used parts of a partition into the system RAM. The cached data reduces disk I/O and improves access performance
Improved database manageability: Partitions queries allow you to drop an entire table partition to remove data instead of filtering data in the main table and running a delete command. This approach is faster and more accurate.

Below is the basic syntax for writing a PostgreSQL partition when defining a table:

postgres=# CREATE TABLE SAMPLE_TABLE_NAME (
               COLUMN_LIST
           ) 
           PARTITION BY PARTITION_TYPE (PARTITION_COLUMN)

Implement PostgreSQL Partitions

Depending on database grouping and storage structure, PostgreSQL supports the following partition methods:

List partitions
Range partitions
Hash partitions

Implement each of these table partitions as described in the following sections.

List Partitions

List partitions allow you to partition data based on discrete values such as departments, order status, or regions. In this type of partition, PostgreSQL examines the data in each partition field before routing the data to a specific table. Implement a list partition as described in the following example.

Create a new customers table with four columns. Then, instruct the PostgreSQL server to partition the table using the country column by including the PARTITION BY LIST (country) statement at the end of the SQL query

 CREATE TABLE customers (
   customer_id SERIAL,
   first_name VARCHAR(50),
   last_name VARCHAR(50),
   country VARCHAR(50),
   CONSTRAINT customers_pkey PRIMARY KEY (customer_id, country)
 ) PARTITION BY LIST (country);

Output:

  CREATE TABLE

Create two different partitions. The usa_customers partition stores all customers from the USA while the canada_customers partition stores all customers from CANADA

 company_db=> CREATE TABLE usa_customers PARTITION OF customers FOR VALUES IN ('USA');

              CREATE TABLE canada_customers PARTITION OF customers FOR VALUES IN ('CANADA');

Output:

 ...
 CREATE TABLE

Insert sample data into the customers table. PostgreSQL should route data to the appropriate partitions

 company_db=> INSERT INTO customers (first_name, last_name, country) VALUES ('JOHN', 'DOE', 'USA');

              INSERT INTO customers (first_name, last_name, country) VALUES ('MARY', 'SMITH', 'CANADA');

              INSERT INTO customers (first_name, last_name, country) VALUES ('PETER', 'SMITH', 'USA');

              INSERT INTO customers (first_name, last_name, country) VALUES ('JANE', 'ISAAC', 'CANADA');

              INSERT INTO customers (first_name, last_name, country) VALUES ('STEVE', 'JOB', 'CANADA');

              INSERT INTO customers (first_name, last_name, country) VALUES ('FRANCIS', 'JAMES', 'USA');

              INSERT INTO customers (first_name, last_name, country) VALUES ('ANN', 'HENRY', 'CANADA');

Output:

 ...
 INSERT 0 1

Query the different table partitions to verify that the data is partitioned correctly:

The usa_customers partition:

  company_db=> SELECT * FROM usa_customers;

Output:

   customer_id | first_name | last_name | country
  -------------+------------+-----------+---------
             1 | JOHN       | DOE       | USA
             3 | PETER      | SMITH     | USA
             6 | FRANCIS    | JAMES     | USA
  (3 rows)

The canada_customers partition:

  company_db=> SELECT * FROM canada_customers;

Output:

   customer_id | first_name | last_name | country
  -------------+------------+-----------+---------
             2 | MARY       | SMITH     | CANADA
             4 | JANE       | ISAAC     | CANADA
             5 | STEVE      | JOB       | CANADA
             7 | ANN        | HENRY     | CANADA
  (4 rows)

Range Partitions

A range partition sub-divides data based on a period. Range partitions are useful in time-series datasets. For example, in a point-of-sale application, you can partition data using the sales_date column. Likewise, in a school registration database, you can partition student records using the admission_date column. Implement Range partitions as described in the following example.

Create a new sales_orders table. Set the PARTITION BY RANGE () value to sales_date to partition data using the sales_date column

 company_db=> CREATE TABLE sales_orders (
                  sales_id SERIAL,
                  sales_date TIMESTAMP,
                  amount DECIMAL(17,2),
                  CONSTRAINT sales_orders_pkey PRIMARY KEY (sales_id, sales_date)
              ) PARTITION BY RANGE (sales_date);

Create four partitions to handle quarterly sales data for the year 2023. In each partition, specify the date boundaries

 company_db=> CREATE TABLE so_q1_2023 PARTITION OF sales_orders FOR VALUES FROM ('2023-01-01') TO ('2023-04-01');

              CREATE TABLE so_q2_2023 PARTITION OF sales_orders FOR VALUES FROM ('2023-04-01') TO ('2023-07-01');

              CREATE TABLE so_q3_2023 PARTITION OF sales_orders FOR VALUES FROM ('2023-07-01') TO ('2023-10-01');

              CREATE TABLE so_q4_2023 PARTITION OF sales_orders FOR VALUES FROM ('2023-10-01') TO ('2024-01-01');

Output:

 ...
 CREATE TABLE

Insert sample data to the base sales_orders table

 company_db=> INSERT INTO sales_orders (sales_date, amount) VALUES ('2023-01-01', 500);

              INSERT INTO sales_orders (sales_date, amount) VALUES ('2023-03-15', 1200);

              INSERT INTO sales_orders (sales_date, amount) VALUES ('2023-04-01', 3600);

              INSERT INTO sales_orders (sales_date, amount) VALUES ('2023-06-30', 800);

              INSERT INTO sales_orders (sales_date, amount) VALUES ('2023-09-15', 2400);

              INSERT INTO sales_orders (sales_date, amount) VALUES ('2023-10-01', 8700);

              INSERT INTO sales_orders (sales_date, amount) VALUES ('2023-11-11', 2780);

              INSERT INTO sales_orders (sales_date, amount) VALUES ('2023-12-31', 3650);

Output:

 ...
 INSERT 0 1

Query data on each partition to verify that PostgreSQL segments the data as expected:

The so_q1_2023 partition:

  company_db=> SELECT * FROM so_q1_2023;

Output:

   sales_id |     sales_date      | amount
  ----------+---------------------+---------
          1 | 2023-01-01 00:00:00 |  500.00
          2 | 2023-03-15 00:00:00 | 1200.00
  (2 rows)

The so_q2_2023 partition:

  company_db=> SELECT * FROM so_q2_2023;

Output:

   sales_id |     sales_date      | amount
  ----------+---------------------+---------
          3 | 2023-04-01 00:00:00 | 3600.00
          4 | 2023-06-30 00:00:00 |  800.00
  (2 rows)

The so_q3_2023 partition:

  company_db=> SELECT * FROM so_q3_2023;

Output:

   sales_id |     sales_date      | amount
  ----------+---------------------+---------
          5 | 2023-09-15 00:00:00 | 2400.00
  (1 row)

The so_q4_2023 partition:

  company_db=> SELECT * FROM so_q4_2023;

Output:

   sales_id |     sales_date      | amount
  ----------+---------------------+---------
          6 | 2023-10-01 00:00:00 | 8700.00
          7 | 2023-11-11 00:00:00 | 2780.00
          8 | 2023-12-31 00:00:00 | 3650.00
  (3 rows)

Hash Partitions

In PostgreSQL hash partitions, data is partitioned using a mathematical formula. This partitioning method is ideal for scenarios where there is no obvious way to partition records using dates or discrete values. The hash algorithm distributes data to child tables to avoid overloading the base table. A hash partition requires a modulus and a remainder. These two values specify where PostgreSQL saves the data in each partition as implemented in the following example.

Create a new employees table. Include the PARTITION BY hash( ) statement with employee_id as the value to partition the table by a hash of the employee_id column

 company_db=> CREATE TABLE employees ( 
                  employee_id SERIAL NOT NULL, 
                  first_name varchar(50),
                  last_name varchar(50)
              ) PARTITION BY hash(employee_id);

Output:

 CREATE TABLE

Create three partitions on the employees table

 company_db=> CREATE TABLE emp_p1 PARTITION OF employees FOR VALUES WITH (MODULUS 3, REMAINDER 0);

              CREATE TABLE emp_p2 PARTITION OF employees FOR VALUES WITH (MODULUS 3, REMAINDER 1);

              CREATE TABLE emp_p3 PARTITION OF employees FOR VALUES WITH (MODULUS 3, REMAINDER 2);

Output:

 ...
 CREATE TABLE

Insert sample data into the employees table

 company_db=> INSERT INTO employees (first_name, last_name) VALUES ('JOHN', 'DOE');

              INSERT INTO employees (first_name, last_name) VALUES ('MARY', 'SMITH');

              INSERT INTO employees (first_name, last_name) VALUES ('JANE', 'ERIC');

              INSERT INTO employees (first_name, last_name) VALUES ('PETER', 'JOB');

              INSERT INTO employees (first_name, last_name) VALUES ('RACHEAL', 'FRANCIS');

              INSERT INTO employees (first_name, last_name) VALUES ('STEVE', 'ISAAC');

Output:

 ...
 INSERT 0 1

Query the partition tables:

emp_p1 partition:

  company_db=> SELECT * FROM emp_p1;

Output:

   employee_id | first_name | last_name
  -------------+------------+-----------
             2 | MARY       | SMITH
             4 | PETER      | JOB
             6 | STEVE      | ISAAC
  (3 rows)

emp_p2 partition:

  company_db=> SELECT * FROM emp_p2;

Output:

  employee_id | first_name | last_name
  -------------+------------+-----------
            3 | JANE       | ERIC
  (1 row)

The emp_p3 partition:

  company_db=> SELECT * FROM emp_p3;

Output.

   employee_id | first_name | last_name
  -------------+------------+-----------
             1 | JOHN       | DOE
             5 | RACHEAL    | FRANCIS
  (2 rows)

Conclusion

In this guide, you implemented three different types of PostgreSQL partitions. Depending on your database size, partition your large database tables into manageable units to query data faster, reduce disk I/O, and improve data manageability. Usually, a complex application may require advanced partitioning models other than the ones discussed in this guide. In such a case, consider using the PostgreSQL table inheritance model or the UNION clause to join multiple tables to run queries.

Next Steps

To implement more PostgreSQL operations, visit the following resources:

How to Speed Up PostgreSQL Queries With Partitions

Introduction

Prerequisites

Create a Sample Database

PostgreSQL Partitions and Benefits

Implement PostgreSQL Partitions

List Partitions

Range Partitions

Hash Partitions

Conclusion

Next Steps

Products

Features

Marketplace

Resources

Company