PostgreSQL: Documentation: 18: 1.  What Is PostgreSQL?

February 26, 2026: PostgreSQL 18.3, 17.9, 16.13, 15.17, and 14.22 Released! Documentation → PostgreSQL 18 Supported Versions: Current (18) / 17 / 16 / 15 / 14 Development Versions: devel Unsupported versions: 13 / 12 / 11 / 10 / 9.6 / 9.5 / 9.4 / 9.3 / 9.2 / 9.1 / 9.0 / 8.4 / 8.3 / 8.2 1. What Is PostgreSQL? Prev Up Preface Home Next 1. What Is PostgreSQL? # PostgreSQL is an object-relational database management system (ORDBMS) based on POSTGRES, Version 4.2, developed at the University of California at Berkeley Computer Science Department. POSTGRES pioneered many concepts that only became available in some commercial database systems much later. PostgreSQL is an open-source descendant of this original Berkeley code. It supports a large part of the SQL standard and offers many modern features: complex queries foreign keys triggers updatable views transactional integrity multiversion concurrency control Also, PostgreSQL can be extended by the user in many ways, for example by adding new data types functions operators aggregate functions index methods procedural languages And because of the liberal license, PostgreSQL can be used, modified, and distributed by anyone free of charge for any purpose, be it private, commercial, or academic. Prev Up Next Preface Home 2. A Brief History of PostgreSQL Submit correction If you see anything in the documentation that is not correct, does not match your experience with the particular feature or requires further clarification, please use this form to report a documentation issue.