BRIN (Block Range INdexes) in PostgreSQL are designed for large tables where data is naturally ordered. They are highly efficient in terms of storage space and are suitable when the table rows are physically sorted in a way that correlates with the indexed columns.
Example: If you have a large table with time-series data ordered by a timestamp column, a BRIN index would be ideal.
CREATE INDEX idx_brin_timestamp ON big_table USING BRIN (timestamp_column);
Use Case: BRIN indexes are perfect for very large datasets with a natural ordering, such as log data, time-series data, or geographical data where rows are ordered by location.
To troubleshoot performance issues with PostgreSQL BRIN indexes, consider the following tips:
By summarizing ranges of values, BRIN indexes allow PostgreSQL to quickly determine which disk blocks need to be visited, significantly speeding up queries on large tables. They are less effective on small tables or where data isn't ordered.