Re: index question - Mailing list pgsql-general

Generically speaking,  if the total of dx_scan + idx_tup_read + idx_tup_fetch  are 0, then it is an _indication_ that those indexes should be dropped.

You should also consider how long those indexes have existed and how often queries are executed.

A good practice would be to save the SQL to recreate the indexes before you drop any. In that way, if you notice a degradation in performance, you can just rebuild

You can use the following query to do that, but you might want to edit and add the CONCURRENT option.

SELECT pg_get_indexdef(idx.indexrelid) || ';'
  FROM pg_stat_all_indexes i
  JOIN pg_class c ON (c.oid = i.relid)
  JOIN pg_namespace n ON (n.oid = c.relnamespace)
  JOIN pg_index idx ON (idx.indexrelid =  i.indexrelid )
 WHERE NOT idx.indisprimary
   AND NOT idx.indisunique
   AND i.relname NOT LIKE 'pg_%'
   AND i.idx_scan + idx_tup_read + idx_tup_fetch = 0
   ORDER BY n.nspname,
          i.relname;

The following query generates the drop statements.

SELECT 'DROP INDEX CONCURRENTLY IF EXISTS "' || quote_ident(n.nspname) || '"' || '.' || '"' || quote_ident(i.indexrelname) || '"' ||';'
  FROM pg_stat_all_indexes i
  JOIN pg_class c ON (c.oid = i.relid)
  JOIN pg_namespace n ON (n.oid = c.relnamespace)
  JOIN pg_index idx ON (idx.indexrelid =  i.indexrelid )
 WHERE NOT idx.indisprimary
   AND i.relname NOT LIKE 'pg_%'
   AND i.idx_scan + idx_tup_read + idx_tup_fetch = 0
   ORDER BY i.indexrelname;

I would not place any concern on the size of the index. That is just what is needed to keep track of all associated rows.

Once you drop the indexes you determine are not needed, you will gain back the space that they use up.

Please stay in touch and let me know how it goes.