Re: pgsql: doc: add examples of creative use of unique expressionindexes - Mailing list pgsql-docs

From Bruce Momjian
Subject Re: pgsql: doc: add examples of creative use of unique expressionindexes
Date
Msg-id 20200521234941.GB30409@momjian.us
Whole thread Raw
In response to Re: pgsql: doc: add examples of creative use of unique expressionindexes  (Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us>)
List pgsql-docs
On Mon, Apr 20, 2020 at 08:31:29PM -0400, Bruce Momjian wrote:
> On Mon, Apr 20, 2020 at 04:21:32PM -0400, Tom Lane wrote:
> > [ sorry, I'd lost track of this thread ]
> > 
> > Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us> writes:
> > > I now remember that I wrote the first IS NULL in:
> > >   CREATE UNIQUE INDEX tests_target_one_null ON tests ((target IS NULL)) WHERE target IS NULL;
> > > in hope that if someone is looking for the null value in the column, the
> > > IS NULL would allow the index to be used to find it, while 1 or true
> > > would not.
> > 
> > Well, that's not the case:
> > 
> > regression=# create index tenk1_null_index on tenk1((1)) where ten is null;
> > CREATE INDEX
> > regression=# explain select * from tenk1 where ten is null;
> >                                    QUERY PLAN                                   
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >  Index Scan using tenk1_null_index on tenk1  (cost=0.12..8.14 rows=1 width=244)
> > (1 row)
> > 
> > (Maybe it was true at some time in the past, but not any more.)
> > 
> > Also, it complicates the example, and since you didn't explain the
> > reason for the complication, I think it's pretty confusing.
> > 
> > But really I still don't see the need for these additional examples
> > at all.  It's especially weird that what you want to do is have
> > some examples on that page have <example> markup and others not.
> 
> OK, seems like only you and I care about this issue, which I take to
> mean that we should minimize what we are adding here.  What the attached
> patch does is to remove the previous commit, and just add a sentence to
> the last example to mention the ability restrict a column to a single
> NULL.

Patch applied.

-- 
  Bruce Momjian  <bruce@momjian.us>        https://momjian.us
  EnterpriseDB                             https://enterprisedb.com

+ As you are, so once was I.  As I am, so you will be. +
+                      Ancient Roman grave inscription +



pgsql-docs by date:

Previous
From: Erwin Brandstetter
Date:
Subject: Wrong link for FETCH FIRST in pg13 release notes
Next
From: Bruce Momjian
Date:
Subject: Re: 11.7 Indexes on Expressions: editorial correction