Using a PostgreSQL's Extensions

PostgreSQL introduces another way to install contrib module, called extensions. If any contrib module build with the extension specification which includes:

• The Extension SQL file (extension_name.sql)
• The Extension control file (extension_name.control)
• The Extensions library file (extension_name.so)

Let's look at the following commands:

• CREATE EXTENSION extension_name: This command will install a new extension called dummy, so there will be no need to manually execute a sql file like we did while installing pg_buffercache.
• ALTER EXTENSION extension name: This command will alter the extension and is mostly used to upgrade an extension.
• DROP EXTENIONS extension_name: This command deletes a extension, after this clean-up is done.