: PostgreSQL Index behavior - Mailing list pgsql-performance

From Venkat Balaji
Subject : PostgreSQL Index behavior
Date
Msg-id CAFrxt0go0hb7bJqPjxicZc6G6gJeRHmYM7rJowE1vzZd7t3BkQ@mail.gmail.com
Whole thread Raw
Responses Re: : PostgreSQL Index behavior  (Jeff Janes <jeff.janes@gmail.com>)
List pgsql-performance
Hello Community,

I intend to understand further on PostgreSQL Index behavior on a "SELECT" statement.

We have a situation where-in Index on unique column is not being picked up as expected when used with-in the WHERE clause with other non-unique columns using AND operator.

explain  SELECT tv.short_code, tv.chn as pkg_subscription_chn,
               tv.vert as pkg_vert, ubs.campaign_id as campaign, 'none'::varchar as referer,
               CAST('CAMPAIGNWISE_SUBSCRIBER_BASE' AS VARCHAR) as vn, count(tv.msisdn) as n_count, '0'::numeric AS tot_revenue
               FROM campaign_base ubs
               JOIN tab_current_day_v2 tv
               ON ubs.ubs_seq_id = tv.ubs_seq_id
             AND tv.dt = CAST('2012-09-08' AS DATE)
             GROUP BY tv.short_code, tv.vert, tv.chn, ubs.campaign_id, vn;

                                             QUERY PLAN
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 HashAggregate  (cost=77754.57..77754.58 rows=1 width=38)
   ->  Nested Loop  (cost=0.00..77754.56 rows=1 width=38)
         ->  Seq Scan on tab_current_day_v2 tv  (cost=0.00..77746.26 rows=1 width=39)
               Filter: (dt = '2012-09-08'::date)
         ->  Index Scan using cb_ubs_id_idx on campaign_base ubs  (cost=0.00..8.28 rows=1 width=15)
               Index Cond: (ubs.ubs_seq_id = tv.ubs_seq_id)
(6 rows)

The above plan shows "seq scan" on tab_current_day_v2 table, though there is an index on "ubs_seq_id" column which is an unique column. 

Can anyone please help us understand, why PostgreSQL optimizer is not prioritizing the unique column and hitting ubs_seq_id_idx Index here ?

Later -

We have created composite Index on "dt" (one distinct value) and "ubs_seq_id" (no duplicate values) and the index has been picked up.

Below is the scenario where-in the same query's plan picking up the composite Index.

prod-db=# create index concurrently tab_dt_ubs_seq_id_idx on tab_current_day_v2(dt,ubs_seq_id);
CREATE INDEX

prod-db=# explain  SELECT tv.short_code, tv.chn as pkg_subscription_chn,
               tv.vert as pkg_vert, ubs.campaign_id as campaign, 'none'::varchar as referer,
               CAST('CAMPAIGNWISE_SUBSCRIBER_BASE' AS VARCHAR) as vn, count(tv.msisdn) as n_count, '0'::numeric AS tot_revenue
            FROM campaign_base ubs
            JOIN tab_current_day_v2 tv
              ON ubs.ubs_seq_id = tv.ubs_seq_id
             AND tv.dt = CAST('2012-09-08' AS DATE)
             GROUP BY tv.short_code, tv.vert, tv.chn, ubs.campaign_id, vn;

                                                         QUERY PLAN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 HashAggregate  (cost=16.88..16.89 rows=1 width=38)
   ->  Nested Loop  (cost=0.00..16.86 rows=1 width=38)
         ->  Index Scan using tab_dt_ubs_seq_id_idx on tab_current_day_v2 tv  (cost=0.00..8.57 rows=1 width=39)
               Index Cond: (dt = '2012-09-08'::date)
         ->  Index Scan using cb_ubs_id_idx on campaign_base ubs  (cost=0.00..8.28 rows=1 width=15)
               Index Cond: (ubs.ubs_seq_id = tv.ubs_seq_id)
(6 rows)

I was expecting the above behavior without a composite Index. A column with most unique values must be picked up when multiple columns are used in WHERE clause using AND operator. Any thoughts ?

prod-db# \d tab_current_day_v2

         Table "public.tab_current_day_v2"
          Column          |           Type           | Modifiers
--------------------------+--------------------------+-----------
 dt                       | date                     |
 chn                      | character varying(10)    |
 vert                     | character varying(20)    |
 isdn            | character varying        |
 bc          | character varying(40)    |
 status                   | text                     |
 is_rene                  | boolean                  |
 age_in_sys               | integer                  |
 age_in_grace             | integer                  |
 has_prof                 | boolean                  |
 short_code               | character varying        |
 sub_vert                 | character varying(30)    |
 mode                     | character varying        |
 ubs_seq_id               | bigint                   |
 pkg_name                 | character varying(200)   |
 pkg_id                   | integer                  |
 subs_charge              | money                    |
 subs_time                | timestamp with time zone |
 ulq_seq_id               | bigint                   |
 valid_till_time          | timestamp with time zone |
 valid_from_time          | timestamp with time zone |
 latest_ube_seq_id        | bigint                   |
 latest_pkg_id            | integer                  |
 price                    | integer                  |
Indexes:
    "tab_dt_ubs_seq_id_idx" btree (dt, ubs_seq_id)
    "tab_isdn_idx" btree (msisdn)
    "tab_status_idx" btree (status)
    "ubs_seq_id_idx" btree (ubs_seq_id)

Below is the table structure and the uniqueness of each of the columns.

airtel_user_data_oltp=# select attname, n_distinct from pg_Stats where tablename='tab_current_day_v2';

         attname          | n_distinct
--------------------------+------------
 dt                       |          1
 chn                      |          7
 vert                     |         94
 isdn                     |  -0.727331
 bc                       |          4
 status                   |          3
 is_rene                  |          2
 age_in_sys               |       1018
 age_in_grac              |        369
 has_prof                 |          2
 short_code               |         23
 sub_vert                 |          5
 mode                     |          0
 ubs_seq_id               |         -1
 pkg_name                 |        461
 pkg_id                   |        461
 subs_charge              |          7
 subs_time                |         -1
 ulq_seq_id               |     122887
 valid_till_time          |  -0.966585
 valid_from_time          |  -0.962563
 latest_ube_seq_id        |         -1
 latest_pkg_id            |        475
 price                    |         18

(24 rows)

This is not an issue, but, would like to understand how PostgreSQL optimizer picks up Indexes in SELECT queries.

In an other scenario, we had used 4 columns in WHERE clause with AND operator with an Index on the column with most unique values -- The Index was picked up.

Looking forward for your help !

Regards,
VB

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