PostgreSQL has grown into one of the most powerful open-source databases in the world, and version 16 continues to raise the bar.
In this article, we’ll break down the essentials of PostgreSQL’s architecture, its enterprise-ready capabilities, and the core features that every DBA should understand.
EDB Portfolio: Enterprise-Grade PostgreSQL
While PostgreSQL itself is open source, EnterpriseDB (EDB) provides enhanced editions that make the database more suitable for enterprise environments:
- Postgres Extended Server: Open-source PostgreSQL plus Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and distributed high availability features.
- Postgres Advanced Server: A commercial version with:
- Oracle compatibility (schemas, PL/SQL, triggers, functions, packages).
- Enhanced security (password policies, session auditing, SQL injection protection, data redaction).
- Developer tools (over 200 utility functions, autonomous transactions, synonyms, advanced queuing).
- DBA tools (catalog views, CPU/I/O throttling, optimizer hints).
👉 This makes EDB versions especially attractive for companies looking to migrate from Oracle to PostgreSQL.
PostgreSQL at a Glance
PostgreSQL has over 30 years of active development, evolving from University Postgres (1986) to today’s community-driven powerhouse.
It is known for:
- Performance: Recent releases have improved throughput by 50% in enterprise workloads.
- Scalability: Supports massive datasets, replication, and table partitioning.
- Extensibility: Works with multiple extensions and supports SQL + NoSQL data models.
- Community strength: Global support from companies and individual contributors.
How PostgreSQL Works: Architectural Overview
PostgreSQL follows a process-per-connection model.
Each client connection spawns a backend process.
Key components include:
- WAL Writer: Handles write-ahead logging to ensure durability.
- Checkpointer: Flushes dirty pages to disk.
- Autovacuum: Automatically cleans up dead tuples and optimizes storage.
- Archiver: Manages WAL archiving for point-in-time recovery.
Shared memory plays a central role, managing caching, locks, and statistics.
Data itself is stored in 8 KB blocks (pages) inside the database’s data directory.
PostgreSQL Scalability Limits
One of PostgreSQL’s greatest strengths is its ability to handle very large workloads:
- Unlimited databases per cluster (limited only by disk).
- Up to 4 billion tables per database.
- Tables as large as 32 TB.
- Fields up to 1 GB each.
- Billions of rows per table.
This makes PostgreSQL suitable for both startups and large-scale enterprises.
Core PostgreSQL Objects Every DBA Should Know
PostgreSQL provides a rich set of objects to organize and manage data:
- Databases – logical collections of schemas.
- Schemas – namespaces within a database.
- Tables – where data lives.
- Indexes – performance boosters for queries.
- Views & Materialized Views – logical layers for simplified querying.
- Sequences – number generators, often used for IDs.
- Domains – custom data types with rules.
- Functions & Triggers – business logic stored in the database.
Final Thoughts
PostgreSQL 16 combines robust architecture, enterprise-grade features, and unmatched flexibility.
Whether you’re running small apps or large enterprise systems, PostgreSQL can scale with your needs.
And with EDB’s enhanced editions, migration from Oracle has never been easier.
👉 If you’re an Oracle shop looking to reduce costs and increase flexibility, now is the perfect time to explore PostgreSQL.