Database extension
A database extension is an installable software package that adds data types, functions, operators, indexes, or other capabilities to a database system.
Just Use Postgres!
A Postgres extension is an installable package that adds data types, functions, operators, indexes, or other capabilities to a PostgreSQL database system.
- How it is used
- Uses extensions to expand Postgres beyond core relational workloads and tailor database behavior for applications.
- How deep it goes
- Explains catalogs, hooks, dynamic loading, installation, and inspection, but only surveys extension categories and omits detailed deployment guidance.
- Examples
- Demonstrates pg_available_extensions, expanded psql output, installed-version filtering, and bundled extensions including plpgsql.
- What you can do after
- Operate/configure extensions by inspecting server availability and distinguishing available versions from extensions enabled in a database.
DuckDB in Action
A database extension is an installable software component that adds capabilities to a database system.
- How it is used
- Adds optional capabilities for remote files, cloud databases, and query execution beyond DuckDB’s core engine.
- How deep it goes
- Explains discovery, installation, loading, idempotence, autoloading, and execution placement, but does not detail extension development.
- Examples
- Demonstrates duckdb_extensions(), httpfs installation, remote CSV queries, MotherDuck management, and MD_RUN-controlled reads.
- What you can do after
- Operate/configure DuckDB extensions by inspecting availability, installing and loading packages, and selecting local or remote execution.
Related concepts
- pg_statvizincludes · pg_statviz is a PostgreSQL extension for capturing, storing, analyzing, and visualizing database statistics over time.
- auto_explainincludes · auto_explain is a PostgreSQL extension that automatically logs execution plans for queries meeting configured conditions.
- pgvectorincludes · pgvector is a PostgreSQL extension that adds vector data types, similarity operations, and indexes for storing and searching vector data.
- TimescaleDBincludes · TimescaleDB is a PostgreSQL extension optimized for storing and querying time-series data.
These guides are generated from the text of Manning books by Manning's knowledge graph and link to the sections they draw on. The full books are available on liveBook and at manning.com.

