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Erlang PostgreSQL client

Erlang PostgreSQL Database Client

  • Connect

    {ok, C} = pgsql:connect(Host, [Username], [Password], Opts).

    Host - host to connect to. Username - username to connect as, defaults to $USER. Password - optional password to authenticate with. Opts - property list of extra options. Supported properties:

    • {database, String}
    • {port, Integer}
    • {ssl, Atom} true | false | required
    • {ssl_opts, List} see ssl application docs in OTP
    • {timeout, Integer} milliseconds, defaults to 5000
    • {async, Pid} see Asynchronous Messages section

    {ok, C} = pgsql:connect("localhost", "username", [{database, "test_db"}]). ok = pgsql:close(C).

    The timeout parameter will trigger an {error, timeout} result when the server fails to respond within Timeout milliseconds. This timeout applies to the initial connection attempt and any subsequent queries.

  • Simple Query

    {ok, Columns, Rows} = pgsql:squery(C, "select ..."). {ok, Count} = pgsql:squery(C, "update ..."). {ok, Count, Columns, Rows} = pgsql:squery(C, "insert ... returning ...").

    {error, Error} = pgsql:squery(C, "invalid SQL").

    Columns - list of column records, see pgsql.hrl for definition. Rows - list of tuples, one for each row. Count - integer count of rows inserted/updated/etc

    The simple query protocol returns all columns as text (Erlang binaries) and does not support binding parameters.

  • Extended Query

    {ok, Columns, Rows} = pgsql:equery(C, "select ...", [Parameters]). {ok, Count} = pgsql:equery(C, "update ...", [Parameters]). {ok, Count, Columns, Rows} = pgsql:equery(C, "insert ... returning ...", [Parameters]).

    {error, Error} = pgsql:equery(C, "invalid SQL", [Parameters]).

    Parameters - optional list of values to be bound to $1, $2, $3, etc.

    The extended query protocol combines parse, bind, and execute using the unnamed prepared statement and portal. A "select" statement returns {ok, Columns, Rows}, "insert/update/delete" returns {ok, Count} or {ok, Count, Columns, Rows} when a "returning" clause is present. When an error occurs, all statements result in {error, #error{}}.

    PostgreSQL's binary format is used to return integers as Erlang integers, floats as floats, bytea/text/varchar columns as binaries, bools as true/false, etc. For details see pgsql_binary.erl and the Data Representation section below.

  • Parse/Bind/Execute

    {ok, Statement} = pgsql:parse(C, [StatementName], Sql, [ParameterTypes]).

    StatementName - optional, reusable, name for the prepared statement. ParameterTypes - optional list of PostgreSQL types for each parameter.

    For valid type names see pgsql_types.erl.

    ok = pgsql:bind(C, Statement, [PortalName], ParameterValues).

    PortalName - optional name for the result portal.

    {ok | partial, Rows} = pgsql:execute(C, Statement, [PortalName], [MaxRows]). {ok, Count} = pgsql:execute(C, Statement, [PortalName]). {ok, Count, Rows} = pgsql:execute(C, Statement, [PortalName]).

    PortalName - optional portal name used in bind/4. MaxRows - maximum number of rows to return (0 for all rows).

    execute returns {partial, Rows} when more rows are available.

    ok = pgsql:close(C, Statement). ok = pgsql:close(C, statement | portal, Name). ok = pgsql:sync(C).

    All functions return {error, Error} when an error occurs.

  • Data Representation

    null = null bool = true | false char = $A | binary intX = 1 floatX = 1.0 date = {Year, Month, Day} time = {Hour, Minute, Second.Microsecond} timetz = {time, Timezone} timestamp = {date, time} timestamptz = {date, time} interval = {time, Days, Months} text = <<"a">> varchar = <<"a">> bytea = <<1, 2>> array = [1, 2, 3]

    record = {int2, time, text, ...} (decode only)

  • Errors

    Errors originating from the PostgreSQL backend are returned as {error, #error{}}, see pgsql.hrl for the record definition. epgsql functions may also return {error, What} where What is one of the following:

    {unsupported_auth_method, Method} - required auth method is unsupported timeout - request timed out closed - connection was closed sync_required - error occured and pgsql:sync must be called

  • Asynchronous Messages

    PostgreSQL may deliver two types of asynchronous message: "notices" in response to notice and warning messages generated by the server, and "notifications" which are generated by the LISTEN/NOTIFY mechanism.

    Passing the {async, Pid} option to pgsql:connect will result in these async messages being sent to the specified process, otherwise they will be dropped.

    Message formats:

    {pgsql, Connection, {notification, Channel, Pid, Payload}}

    Connection  - connection the notification occured on
    
    Channel     - channel the notification occured on
    Pid         - database session pid that sent notification
    Payload     - optional payload, only available from PostgreSQL >= 9.0
    

    {pgsql, Connection, {notice, Error}}

    Connection  - connection the notice occured on
    Error       - an #error{} record, see pgsql.hrl