Chapter 58. Database Physical Storage

Table of Contents
58.1. Database File Layout
58.2. TOAST
58.3. Free Space Map
58.4. Visibility Map
58.5. The Initialization Fork
58.6. Database Page Layout

Note: The following description applies both to Postgres-XC and PostgreSQL if not described explicitly. You can read PostgreSQL as Postgres-XC except for version number, which is specific to each product.

This chapter provides an overview of the physical storage format used by PostgreSQL databases.