1<!-- doc/src/sgml/brin.sgml -->
2
3<chapter id="brin">
4<title>BRIN Indexes</title>
5
6   <indexterm>
7    <primary>index</primary>
8    <secondary>BRIN</secondary>
9   </indexterm>
10
11<sect1 id="brin-intro">
12 <title>Introduction</title>
13
14 <para>
15  <acronym>BRIN</acronym> stands for Block Range Index.
16  <acronym>BRIN</acronym> is designed for handling very large tables
17  in which certain columns have some natural correlation with their
18  physical location within the table.
19  A <firstterm>block range</firstterm> is a group of pages that are physically
20  adjacent in the table; for each block range, some summary info is stored
21  by the index.
22  For example, a table storing a store's sale orders might have
23  a date column on which each order was placed, and most of the time
24  the entries for earlier orders will appear earlier in the table as well;
25  a table storing a ZIP code column might have all codes for a city
26  grouped together naturally.
27 </para>
28
29 <para>
30  <acronym>BRIN</acronym> indexes can satisfy queries via regular bitmap
31  index scans, and will return all tuples in all pages within each range if
32  the summary info stored by the index is <firstterm>consistent</firstterm> with the
33  query conditions.
34  The query executor is in charge of rechecking these tuples and discarding
35  those that do not match the query conditions &mdash; in other words, these
36  indexes are lossy.
37  Because a <acronym>BRIN</acronym> index is very small, scanning the index
38  adds little overhead compared to a sequential scan, but may avoid scanning
39  large parts of the table that are known not to contain matching tuples.
40 </para>
41
42 <para>
43  The specific data that a <acronym>BRIN</acronym> index will store,
44  as well as the specific queries that the index will be able to satisfy,
45  depend on the operator class selected for each column of the index.
46  Data types having a linear sort order can have operator classes that
47  store the minimum and maximum value within each block range, for instance;
48  geometrical types might store the bounding box for all the objects
49  in the block range.
50 </para>
51
52 <para>
53  The size of the block range is determined at index creation time by
54  the <literal>pages_per_range</literal> storage parameter.  The number of index
55  entries will be equal to the size of the relation in pages divided by
56  the selected value for <literal>pages_per_range</literal>.  Therefore, the smaller
57  the number, the larger the index becomes (because of the need to
58  store more index entries), but at the same time the summary data stored can
59  be more precise and more data blocks can be skipped during an index scan.
60 </para>
61
62 <sect2 id="brin-operation">
63  <title>Index Maintenance</title>
64
65  <para>
66   At the time of creation, all existing heap pages are scanned and a
67   summary index tuple is created for each range, including the
68   possibly-incomplete range at the end.
69   As new pages are filled with data, page ranges that are already
70   summarized will cause the summary information to be updated with data
71   from the new tuples.
72   When a new page is created that does not fall within the last
73   summarized range, that range does not automatically acquire a summary
74   tuple; those tuples remain unsummarized until a summarization run is
75   invoked later, creating initial summaries.
76   This process can be invoked manually using the
77   <function>brin_summarize_range(regclass, bigint)</function> or
78   <function>brin_summarize_new_values(regclass)</function> functions;
79   automatically when <command>VACUUM</command> processes the table;
80   or by automatic summarization executed by autovacuum, as insertions
81   occur.  (This last trigger is disabled by default and can be enabled
82   with the <literal>autosummarize</literal> parameter.)
83   Conversely, a range can be de-summarized using the
84   <function>brin_desummarize_range(regclass, bigint)</function> function,
85   which is useful when the index tuple is no longer a very good
86   representation because the existing values have changed.
87  </para>
88
89  <para>
90   When autosummarization is enabled, each time a page range is filled a
91   request is sent to autovacuum for it to execute a targeted summarization
92   for that range, to be fulfilled at the end of the next worker run on the
93   same database.  If the request queue is full, the request is not recorded
94   and a message is sent to the server log:
95<screen>
96LOG:  request for BRIN range summarization for index "brin_wi_idx" page 128 was not recorded
97</screen>
98   When this happens, the range will be summarized normally during the next
99   regular vacuum of the table.
100  </para>
101 </sect2>
102</sect1>
103
104<sect1 id="brin-builtin-opclasses">
105 <title>Built-in Operator Classes</title>
106
107 <para>
108  The core <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> distribution
109  includes the <acronym>BRIN</acronym> operator classes shown in
110  <xref linkend="brin-builtin-opclasses-table"/>.
111 </para>
112
113 <para>
114  The <firstterm>minmax</firstterm>
115  operator classes store the minimum and the maximum values appearing
116  in the indexed column within the range.  The <firstterm>inclusion</firstterm>
117  operator classes store a value which includes the values in the indexed
118  column within the range.
119 </para>
120
121 <table id="brin-builtin-opclasses-table">
122  <title>Built-in <acronym>BRIN</acronym> Operator Classes</title>
123  <tgroup cols="3">
124   <colspec colname="col1" colwidth="2*"/>
125   <colspec colname="col2" colwidth="2*"/>
126   <colspec colname="col3" colwidth="1*"/>
127   <thead>
128    <row>
129     <entry>Name</entry>
130     <entry>Indexed Data Type</entry>
131     <entry>Indexable Operators</entry>
132    </row>
133   </thead>
134   <tbody>
135    <row>
136     <entry><literal>int8_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
137     <entry><type>bigint</type></entry>
138     <entry>
139      <literal>&lt;</literal>
140      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
141      <literal>=</literal>
142      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
143      <literal>&gt;</literal>
144     </entry>
145    </row>
146    <row>
147     <entry><literal>bit_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
148     <entry><type>bit</type></entry>
149     <entry>
150      <literal>&lt;</literal>
151      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
152      <literal>=</literal>
153      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
154      <literal>&gt;</literal>
155     </entry>
156    </row>
157    <row>
158     <entry><literal>varbit_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
159     <entry><type>bit varying</type></entry>
160     <entry>
161      <literal>&lt;</literal>
162      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
163      <literal>=</literal>
164      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
165      <literal>&gt;</literal>
166     </entry>
167    </row>
168    <row>
169     <entry><literal>box_inclusion_ops</literal></entry>
170     <entry><type>box</type></entry>
171     <entry>
172      <literal>&lt;&lt;</literal>
173      <literal>&amp;&lt;</literal>
174      <literal>&amp;&amp;</literal>
175      <literal>&amp;&gt;</literal>
176      <literal>&gt;&gt;</literal>
177      <literal>~=</literal>
178      <literal>@&gt;</literal>
179      <literal>&lt;@</literal>
180      <literal>&amp;&lt;|</literal>
181      <literal>&lt;&lt;|</literal>
182      <literal>|&gt;&gt;</literal>
183      <literal>|&amp;&gt;</literal>
184     </entry>
185    </row>
186    <row>
187     <entry><literal>bytea_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
188     <entry><type>bytea</type></entry>
189     <entry>
190      <literal>&lt;</literal>
191      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
192      <literal>=</literal>
193      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
194      <literal>&gt;</literal>
195     </entry>
196    </row>
197    <row>
198     <entry><literal>bpchar_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
199     <entry><type>character</type></entry>
200     <entry>
201      <literal>&lt;</literal>
202      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
203      <literal>=</literal>
204      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
205      <literal>&gt;</literal>
206     </entry>
207    </row>
208    <row>
209     <entry><literal>char_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
210     <entry><type>"char"</type></entry>
211     <entry>
212      <literal>&lt;</literal>
213      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
214      <literal>=</literal>
215      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
216      <literal>&gt;</literal>
217     </entry>
218    </row>
219    <row>
220     <entry><literal>date_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
221     <entry><type>date</type></entry>
222     <entry>
223      <literal>&lt;</literal>
224      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
225      <literal>=</literal>
226      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
227      <literal>&gt;</literal>
228     </entry>
229    </row>
230    <row>
231     <entry><literal>float8_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
232     <entry><type>double precision</type></entry>
233     <entry>
234      <literal>&lt;</literal>
235      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
236      <literal>=</literal>
237      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
238      <literal>&gt;</literal>
239     </entry>
240    </row>
241    <row>
242     <entry><literal>inet_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
243     <entry><type>inet</type></entry>
244     <entry>
245      <literal>&lt;</literal>
246      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
247      <literal>=</literal>
248      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
249      <literal>&gt;</literal>
250     </entry>
251    </row>
252    <row>
253     <entry><literal>network_inclusion_ops</literal></entry>
254     <entry><type>inet</type></entry>
255     <entry>
256      <literal>&amp;&amp;</literal>
257      <literal>&gt;&gt;=</literal>
258      <literal>&lt;&lt;=</literal>
259      <literal>=</literal>
260      <literal>&gt;&gt;</literal>
261      <literal>&lt;&lt;</literal>
262     </entry>
263    </row>
264    <row>
265     <entry><literal>int4_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
266     <entry><type>integer</type></entry>
267     <entry>
268      <literal>&lt;</literal>
269      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
270      <literal>=</literal>
271      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
272      <literal>&gt;</literal>
273     </entry>
274    </row>
275    <row>
276     <entry><literal>interval_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
277     <entry><type>interval</type></entry>
278     <entry>
279      <literal>&lt;</literal>
280      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
281      <literal>=</literal>
282      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
283      <literal>&gt;</literal>
284     </entry>
285    </row>
286    <row>
287     <entry><literal>macaddr_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
288     <entry><type>macaddr</type></entry>
289     <entry>
290      <literal>&lt;</literal>
291      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
292      <literal>=</literal>
293      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
294      <literal>&gt;</literal>
295     </entry>
296    </row>
297    <row>
298     <entry><literal>macaddr8_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
299     <entry><type>macaddr8</type></entry>
300     <entry>
301      <literal>&lt;</literal>
302      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
303      <literal>=</literal>
304      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
305      <literal>&gt;</literal>
306     </entry>
307    </row>
308    <row>
309     <entry><literal>name_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
310     <entry><type>name</type></entry>
311     <entry>
312      <literal>&lt;</literal>
313      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
314      <literal>=</literal>
315      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
316      <literal>&gt;</literal>
317     </entry>
318    </row>
319    <row>
320     <entry><literal>numeric_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
321     <entry><type>numeric</type></entry>
322     <entry>
323      <literal>&lt;</literal>
324      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
325      <literal>=</literal>
326      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
327      <literal>&gt;</literal>
328     </entry>
329    </row>
330    <row>
331     <entry><literal>pg_lsn_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
332     <entry><type>pg_lsn</type></entry>
333     <entry>
334      <literal>&lt;</literal>
335      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
336      <literal>=</literal>
337      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
338      <literal>&gt;</literal>
339     </entry>
340    </row>
341    <row>
342     <entry><literal>oid_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
343     <entry><type>oid</type></entry>
344     <entry>
345      <literal>&lt;</literal>
346      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
347      <literal>=</literal>
348      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
349      <literal>&gt;</literal>
350     </entry>
351    </row>
352    <row>
353     <entry><literal>range_inclusion_ops</literal></entry>
354     <entry><type>any range type</type></entry>
355     <entry>
356      <literal>&lt;&lt;</literal>
357      <literal>&amp;&lt;</literal>
358      <literal>&amp;&amp;</literal>
359      <literal>&amp;&gt;</literal>
360      <literal>&gt;&gt;</literal>
361      <literal>@&gt;</literal>
362      <literal>&lt;@</literal>
363      <literal>-|-</literal>
364      <literal>=</literal>
365      <literal>&lt;</literal>
366      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
367      <literal>=</literal>
368      <literal>&gt;</literal>
369      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
370     </entry>
371    </row>
372    <row>
373     <entry><literal>float4_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
374     <entry><type>real</type></entry>
375     <entry>
376      <literal>&lt;</literal>
377      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
378      <literal>=</literal>
379      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
380      <literal>&gt;</literal>
381     </entry>
382    </row>
383    <row>
384     <entry><literal>int2_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
385     <entry><type>smallint</type></entry>
386     <entry>
387      <literal>&lt;</literal>
388      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
389      <literal>=</literal>
390      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
391      <literal>&gt;</literal>
392     </entry>
393    </row>
394    <row>
395     <entry><literal>text_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
396     <entry><type>text</type></entry>
397     <entry>
398      <literal>&lt;</literal>
399      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
400      <literal>=</literal>
401      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
402      <literal>&gt;</literal>
403     </entry>
404    </row>
405    <row>
406     <entry><literal>tid_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
407     <entry><type>tid</type></entry>
408     <entry>
409      <literal>&lt;</literal>
410      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
411      <literal>=</literal>
412      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
413      <literal>&gt;</literal>
414     </entry>
415    </row>
416    <row>
417     <entry><literal>timestamp_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
418     <entry><type>timestamp without time zone</type></entry>
419     <entry>
420      <literal>&lt;</literal>
421      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
422      <literal>=</literal>
423      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
424      <literal>&gt;</literal>
425     </entry>
426    </row>
427    <row>
428     <entry><literal>timestamptz_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
429     <entry><type>timestamp with time zone</type></entry>
430     <entry>
431      <literal>&lt;</literal>
432      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
433      <literal>=</literal>
434      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
435      <literal>&gt;</literal>
436     </entry>
437    </row>
438    <row>
439     <entry><literal>time_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
440     <entry><type>time without time zone</type></entry>
441     <entry>
442      <literal>&lt;</literal>
443      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
444      <literal>=</literal>
445      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
446      <literal>&gt;</literal>
447     </entry>
448    </row>
449    <row>
450     <entry><literal>timetz_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
451     <entry><type>time with time zone</type></entry>
452     <entry>
453      <literal>&lt;</literal>
454      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
455      <literal>=</literal>
456      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
457      <literal>&gt;</literal>
458     </entry>
459    </row>
460    <row>
461     <entry><literal>uuid_minmax_ops</literal></entry>
462     <entry><type>uuid</type></entry>
463     <entry>
464      <literal>&lt;</literal>
465      <literal>&lt;=</literal>
466      <literal>=</literal>
467      <literal>&gt;=</literal>
468      <literal>&gt;</literal>
469     </entry>
470    </row>
471   </tbody>
472  </tgroup>
473 </table>
474</sect1>
475
476<sect1 id="brin-extensibility">
477 <title>Extensibility</title>
478
479 <para>
480  The <acronym>BRIN</acronym> interface has a high level of abstraction,
481  requiring the access method implementer only to implement the semantics
482  of the data type being accessed.  The <acronym>BRIN</acronym> layer
483  itself takes care of concurrency, logging and searching the index structure.
484 </para>
485
486 <para>
487  All it takes to get a <acronym>BRIN</acronym> access method working is to
488  implement a few user-defined methods, which define the behavior of
489  summary values stored in the index and the way they interact with
490  scan keys.
491  In short, <acronym>BRIN</acronym> combines
492  extensibility with generality, code reuse, and a clean interface.
493 </para>
494
495 <para>
496  There are four methods that an operator class for <acronym>BRIN</acronym>
497  must provide:
498
499  <variablelist>
500   <varlistentry>
501    <term><function>BrinOpcInfo *opcInfo(Oid type_oid)</function></term>
502    <listitem>
503     <para>
504      Returns internal information about the indexed columns' summary data.
505      The return value must point to a palloc'd <structname>BrinOpcInfo</structname>,
506      which has this definition:
507<programlisting>
508typedef struct BrinOpcInfo
509{
510    /* Number of columns stored in an index column of this opclass */
511    uint16      oi_nstored;
512
513    /* Opaque pointer for the opclass' private use */
514    void       *oi_opaque;
515
516    /* Type cache entries of the stored columns */
517    TypeCacheEntry *oi_typcache[FLEXIBLE_ARRAY_MEMBER];
518} BrinOpcInfo;
519</programlisting>
520      <structname>BrinOpcInfo</structname>.<structfield>oi_opaque</structfield> can be used by the
521      operator class routines to pass information between support functions
522      during an index scan.
523     </para>
524    </listitem>
525   </varlistentry>
526
527   <varlistentry>
528    <term><function>bool consistent(BrinDesc *bdesc, BrinValues *column,
529       ScanKey key)</function></term>
530    <listitem>
531     <para>
532      Returns whether the ScanKey is consistent with the given indexed
533      values for a range.
534      The attribute number to use is passed as part of the scan key.
535     </para>
536    </listitem>
537   </varlistentry>
538
539   <varlistentry>
540    <term><function>bool addValue(BrinDesc *bdesc, BrinValues *column,
541       Datum newval, bool isnull)</function></term>
542    <listitem>
543     <para>
544      Given an index tuple and an indexed value, modifies the indicated
545      attribute of the tuple so that it additionally represents the new value.
546      If any modification was done to the tuple, <literal>true</literal> is
547      returned.
548     </para>
549    </listitem>
550   </varlistentry>
551
552   <varlistentry>
553    <term><function>bool unionTuples(BrinDesc *bdesc, BrinValues *a,
554       BrinValues *b)</function></term>
555    <listitem>
556     <para>
557      Consolidates two index tuples. Given two index tuples, modifies the
558      indicated attribute of the first of them so that it represents both tuples.
559      The second tuple is not modified.
560     </para>
561    </listitem>
562   </varlistentry>
563  </variablelist>
564
565  An operator class for <acronym>BRIN</acronym> can optionally specify the
566  following method:
567
568  <variablelist>
569    <varlistentry>
570     <term><function>void options(local_relopts *relopts)</function></term>
571     <listitem>
572      <para>
573       Defines a set of user-visible parameters that control operator class
574       behavior.
575      </para>
576
577      <para>
578       The <function>options</function> function is passed a pointer to a
579       <replaceable>local_relopts</replaceable> struct, which needs to be
580       filled with a set of operator class specific options.  The options
581       can be accessed from other support functions using the
582       <literal>PG_HAS_OPCLASS_OPTIONS()</literal> and
583       <literal>PG_GET_OPCLASS_OPTIONS()</literal> macros.
584      </para>
585
586      <para>
587       Since both key extraction of indexed values and representation of the
588       key in <acronym>BRIN</acronym> are flexible, they may depend on
589       user-specified parameters.
590      </para>
591     </listitem>
592    </varlistentry>
593  </variablelist>
594
595  The core distribution includes support for two types of operator classes:
596  minmax and inclusion.  Operator class definitions using them are shipped for
597  in-core data types as appropriate.  Additional operator classes can be
598  defined by the user for other data types using equivalent definitions,
599  without having to write any source code; appropriate catalog entries being
600  declared is enough.  Note that assumptions about the semantics of operator
601  strategies are embedded in the support functions' source code.
602 </para>
603
604 <para>
605  Operator classes that implement completely different semantics are also
606  possible, provided implementations of the four main support functions
607  described above are written.  Note that backwards compatibility across major
608  releases is not guaranteed: for example, additional support functions might
609  be required in later releases.
610 </para>
611
612 <para>
613  To write an operator class for a data type that implements a totally
614  ordered set, it is possible to use the minmax support functions
615  alongside the corresponding operators, as shown in
616  <xref linkend="brin-extensibility-minmax-table"/>.
617  All operator class members (functions and operators) are mandatory.
618 </para>
619
620 <table id="brin-extensibility-minmax-table">
621  <title>Function and Support Numbers for Minmax Operator Classes</title>
622  <tgroup cols="2">
623   <colspec colname="col1" colwidth="1*"/>
624   <colspec colname="col2" colwidth="2*"/>
625   <thead>
626    <row>
627     <entry>Operator class member</entry>
628     <entry>Object</entry>
629    </row>
630   </thead>
631   <tbody>
632    <row>
633     <entry>Support Function 1</entry>
634     <entry>internal function <function>brin_minmax_opcinfo()</function></entry>
635    </row>
636    <row>
637     <entry>Support Function 2</entry>
638     <entry>internal function <function>brin_minmax_add_value()</function></entry>
639    </row>
640    <row>
641     <entry>Support Function 3</entry>
642     <entry>internal function <function>brin_minmax_consistent()</function></entry>
643    </row>
644    <row>
645     <entry>Support Function 4</entry>
646     <entry>internal function <function>brin_minmax_union()</function></entry>
647    </row>
648    <row>
649     <entry>Operator Strategy 1</entry>
650     <entry>operator less-than</entry>
651    </row>
652    <row>
653     <entry>Operator Strategy 2</entry>
654     <entry>operator less-than-or-equal-to</entry>
655    </row>
656    <row>
657     <entry>Operator Strategy 3</entry>
658     <entry>operator equal-to</entry>
659    </row>
660    <row>
661     <entry>Operator Strategy 4</entry>
662     <entry>operator greater-than-or-equal-to</entry>
663    </row>
664    <row>
665     <entry>Operator Strategy 5</entry>
666     <entry>operator greater-than</entry>
667    </row>
668   </tbody>
669  </tgroup>
670 </table>
671
672 <para>
673  To write an operator class for a complex data type which has values
674  included within another type, it's possible to use the inclusion support
675  functions alongside the corresponding operators, as shown
676  in <xref linkend="brin-extensibility-inclusion-table"/>.  It requires
677  only a single additional function, which can be written in any language.
678  More functions can be defined for additional functionality.  All operators
679  are optional.  Some operators require other operators, as shown as
680  dependencies on the table.
681 </para>
682
683 <table id="brin-extensibility-inclusion-table">
684  <title>Function and Support Numbers for Inclusion Operator Classes</title>
685  <tgroup cols="3">
686   <colspec colname="col1" colwidth="1*"/>
687   <colspec colname="col2" colwidth="2*"/>
688   <colspec colname="col3" colwidth="1*"/>
689   <thead>
690    <row>
691     <entry>Operator class member</entry>
692     <entry>Object</entry>
693     <entry>Dependency</entry>
694    </row>
695   </thead>
696   <tbody>
697    <row>
698     <entry>Support Function 1</entry>
699     <entry>internal function <function>brin_inclusion_opcinfo()</function></entry>
700     <entry></entry>
701    </row>
702    <row>
703     <entry>Support Function 2</entry>
704     <entry>internal function <function>brin_inclusion_add_value()</function></entry>
705     <entry></entry>
706    </row>
707    <row>
708     <entry>Support Function 3</entry>
709     <entry>internal function <function>brin_inclusion_consistent()</function></entry>
710     <entry></entry>
711    </row>
712    <row>
713     <entry>Support Function 4</entry>
714     <entry>internal function <function>brin_inclusion_union()</function></entry>
715     <entry></entry>
716    </row>
717    <row>
718     <entry>Support Function 11</entry>
719     <entry>function to merge two elements</entry>
720     <entry></entry>
721    </row>
722    <row>
723     <entry>Support Function 12</entry>
724     <entry>optional function to check whether two elements are mergeable</entry>
725     <entry></entry>
726    </row>
727    <row>
728     <entry>Support Function 13</entry>
729     <entry>optional function to check if an element is contained within another</entry>
730     <entry></entry>
731    </row>
732    <row>
733     <entry>Support Function 14</entry>
734     <entry>optional function to check whether an element is empty</entry>
735     <entry></entry>
736    </row>
737    <row>
738     <entry>Operator Strategy 1</entry>
739     <entry>operator left-of</entry>
740     <entry>Operator Strategy 4</entry>
741    </row>
742    <row>
743     <entry>Operator Strategy 2</entry>
744     <entry>operator does-not-extend-to-the-right-of</entry>
745     <entry>Operator Strategy 5</entry>
746    </row>
747    <row>
748     <entry>Operator Strategy 3</entry>
749     <entry>operator overlaps</entry>
750     <entry></entry>
751    </row>
752    <row>
753     <entry>Operator Strategy 4</entry>
754     <entry>operator does-not-extend-to-the-left-of</entry>
755     <entry>Operator Strategy 1</entry>
756    </row>
757    <row>
758     <entry>Operator Strategy 5</entry>
759     <entry>operator right-of</entry>
760     <entry>Operator Strategy 2</entry>
761    </row>
762    <row>
763     <entry>Operator Strategy 6, 18</entry>
764     <entry>operator same-as-or-equal-to</entry>
765     <entry>Operator Strategy 7</entry>
766    </row>
767    <row>
768     <entry>Operator Strategy 7, 13, 16, 24, 25</entry>
769     <entry>operator contains-or-equal-to</entry>
770     <entry></entry>
771    </row>
772    <row>
773     <entry>Operator Strategy 8, 14, 26, 27</entry>
774     <entry>operator is-contained-by-or-equal-to</entry>
775     <entry>Operator Strategy 3</entry>
776    </row>
777    <row>
778     <entry>Operator Strategy 9</entry>
779     <entry>operator does-not-extend-above</entry>
780     <entry>Operator Strategy 11</entry>
781    </row>
782    <row>
783     <entry>Operator Strategy 10</entry>
784     <entry>operator is-below</entry>
785     <entry>Operator Strategy 12</entry>
786    </row>
787    <row>
788     <entry>Operator Strategy 11</entry>
789     <entry>operator is-above</entry>
790     <entry>Operator Strategy 9</entry>
791    </row>
792    <row>
793     <entry>Operator Strategy 12</entry>
794     <entry>operator does-not-extend-below</entry>
795     <entry>Operator Strategy 10</entry>
796    </row>
797    <row>
798     <entry>Operator Strategy 20</entry>
799     <entry>operator less-than</entry>
800     <entry>Operator Strategy 5</entry>
801    </row>
802    <row>
803     <entry>Operator Strategy 21</entry>
804     <entry>operator less-than-or-equal-to</entry>
805     <entry>Operator Strategy 5</entry>
806    </row>
807    <row>
808     <entry>Operator Strategy 22</entry>
809     <entry>operator greater-than</entry>
810     <entry>Operator Strategy 1</entry>
811    </row>
812    <row>
813     <entry>Operator Strategy 23</entry>
814     <entry>operator greater-than-or-equal-to</entry>
815     <entry>Operator Strategy 1</entry>
816    </row>
817   </tbody>
818  </tgroup>
819 </table>
820
821 <para>
822    Support function numbers 1 through 10 are reserved for the BRIN internal
823    functions, so the SQL level functions start with number 11.  Support
824    function number 11 is the main function required to build the index.
825    It should accept two arguments with the same data type as the operator class,
826    and return the union of them.  The inclusion operator class can store union
827    values with different data types if it is defined with the
828    <literal>STORAGE</literal> parameter.  The return value of the union
829    function should match the <literal>STORAGE</literal> data type.
830 </para>
831
832 <para>
833    Support function numbers 12 and 14 are provided to support
834    irregularities of built-in data types.  Function number 12
835    is used to support network addresses from different families which
836    are not mergeable.  Function number 14 is used to support
837    empty ranges.  Function number 13 is an optional but
838    recommended one, which allows the new value to be checked before
839    it is passed to the union function.  As the BRIN framework can shortcut
840    some operations when the union is not changed, using this
841    function can improve index performance.
842 </para>
843
844 <para>
845    Both minmax and inclusion operator classes support cross-data-type
846    operators, though with these the dependencies become more complicated.
847    The minmax operator class requires a full set of operators to be
848    defined with both arguments having the same data type.  It allows
849    additional data types to be supported by defining extra sets
850    of operators.  Inclusion operator class operator strategies are dependent
851    on another operator strategy as shown in
852    <xref linkend="brin-extensibility-inclusion-table"/>, or the same
853    operator strategy as themselves.  They require the dependency
854    operator to be defined with the <literal>STORAGE</literal> data type as the
855    left-hand-side argument and the other supported data type to be the
856    right-hand-side argument of the supported operator.  See
857    <literal>float4_minmax_ops</literal> as an example of minmax, and
858    <literal>box_inclusion_ops</literal> as an example of inclusion.
859 </para>
860</sect1>
861</chapter>
862