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2 <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /><title>ALTER INDEX</title><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="stylesheet.css" /><link rev="made" href="pgsql-docs@lists.postgresql.org" /><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets Vsnapshot" /><link rel="prev" href="sql-altergroup.html" title="ALTER GROUP" /><link rel="next" href="sql-alterlanguage.html" title="ALTER LANGUAGE" /></head><body id="docContent" class="container-fluid col-10"><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="5" align="center">ALTER INDEX</th></tr><tr><td width="10%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="sql-altergroup.html" title="ALTER GROUP">Prev</a> </td><td width="10%" align="left"><a accesskey="u" href="sql-commands.html" title="SQL Commands">Up</a></td><th width="60%" align="center">SQL Commands</th><td width="10%" align="right"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html" title="PostgreSQL 18.0 Documentation">Home</a></td><td width="10%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="sql-alterlanguage.html" title="ALTER LANGUAGE">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr /></div><div class="refentry" id="SQL-ALTERINDEX"><div class="titlepage"></div><a id="id-1.9.3.16.1" class="indexterm"></a><div class="refnamediv"><h2><span class="refentrytitle">ALTER INDEX</span></h2><p>ALTER INDEX — change the definition of an index</p></div><div class="refsynopsisdiv"><h2>Synopsis</h2><pre class="synopsis">
3 ALTER INDEX [ IF EXISTS ] <em class="replaceable"><code>name</code></em> RENAME TO <em class="replaceable"><code>new_name</code></em>
4 ALTER INDEX [ IF EXISTS ] <em class="replaceable"><code>name</code></em> SET TABLESPACE <em class="replaceable"><code>tablespace_name</code></em>
5 ALTER INDEX <em class="replaceable"><code>name</code></em> ATTACH PARTITION <em class="replaceable"><code>index_name</code></em>
6 ALTER INDEX <em class="replaceable"><code>name</code></em> [ NO ] DEPENDS ON EXTENSION <em class="replaceable"><code>extension_name</code></em>
7 ALTER INDEX [ IF EXISTS ] <em class="replaceable"><code>name</code></em> SET ( <em class="replaceable"><code>storage_parameter</code></em> [= <em class="replaceable"><code>value</code></em>] [, ... ] )
8 ALTER INDEX [ IF EXISTS ] <em class="replaceable"><code>name</code></em> RESET ( <em class="replaceable"><code>storage_parameter</code></em> [, ... ] )
9 ALTER INDEX [ IF EXISTS ] <em class="replaceable"><code>name</code></em> ALTER [ COLUMN ] <em class="replaceable"><code>column_number</code></em>
10 SET STATISTICS <em class="replaceable"><code>integer</code></em>
11 ALTER INDEX ALL IN TABLESPACE <em class="replaceable"><code>name</code></em> [ OWNED BY <em class="replaceable"><code>role_name</code></em> [, ... ] ]
12 SET TABLESPACE <em class="replaceable"><code>new_tablespace</code></em> [ NOWAIT ]
13 </pre></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.16.5"><h2>Description</h2><p>
14 <code class="command">ALTER INDEX</code> changes the definition of an existing index.
15 There are several subforms described below. Note that the lock level required
16 may differ for each subform. An <code class="literal">ACCESS EXCLUSIVE</code> lock is held
17 unless explicitly noted. When multiple subcommands are listed, the lock
18 held will be the strictest one required from any subcommand.
20 </p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">RENAME</code></span></dt><dd><p>
21 The <code class="literal">RENAME</code> form changes the name of the index.
22 If the index is associated with a table constraint (either
23 <code class="literal">UNIQUE</code>, <code class="literal">PRIMARY KEY</code>,
24 or <code class="literal">EXCLUDE</code>), the constraint is renamed as well.
25 There is no effect on the stored data.
27 Renaming an index acquires a <code class="literal">SHARE UPDATE EXCLUSIVE</code>
29 </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">SET TABLESPACE</code></span></dt><dd><p>
30 This form changes the index's tablespace to the specified tablespace and
31 moves the data file(s) associated with the index to the new tablespace.
32 To change the tablespace of an index, you must own the index and have
33 <code class="literal">CREATE</code> privilege on the new tablespace.
34 All indexes in the current database in a tablespace can be moved by using
35 the <code class="literal">ALL IN TABLESPACE</code> form, which will lock all
36 indexes to be moved and then move each one. This form also supports
37 <code class="literal">OWNED BY</code>, which will only move indexes owned by the
38 roles specified. If the <code class="literal">NOWAIT</code> option is specified
39 then the command will fail if it is unable to acquire all of the locks
40 required immediately. Note that system catalogs will not be moved by
41 this command, use <code class="command">ALTER DATABASE</code> or explicit
42 <code class="command">ALTER INDEX</code> invocations instead if desired.
44 <a class="link" href="sql-createtablespace.html" title="CREATE TABLESPACE"><code class="command">CREATE TABLESPACE</code></a>.
45 </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">ATTACH PARTITION <em class="replaceable"><code>index_name</code></em></code></span></dt><dd><p>
46 Causes the named index (possibly schema-qualified) to become attached
48 The named index must be on a partition of the table containing the
49 index being altered, and have an equivalent definition. An attached
50 index cannot be dropped by itself, and will automatically be dropped
51 if its parent index is dropped.
52 </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">DEPENDS ON EXTENSION <em class="replaceable"><code>extension_name</code></em></code><br /></span><span class="term"><code class="literal">NO DEPENDS ON EXTENSION <em class="replaceable"><code>extension_name</code></em></code></span></dt><dd><p>
53 This form marks the index as dependent on the extension, or no longer
54 dependent on that extension if <code class="literal">NO</code> is specified.
55 An index that's marked as dependent on an extension is automatically
56 dropped when the extension is dropped.
57 </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">SET ( <em class="replaceable"><code>storage_parameter</code></em> [= <em class="replaceable"><code>value</code></em>] [, ... ] )</code></span></dt><dd><p>
58 This form changes one or more index-method-specific storage parameters
60 <a class="link" href="sql-createindex.html" title="CREATE INDEX"><code class="command">CREATE INDEX</code></a>
61 for details on the available parameters. Note that the index contents
62 will not be modified immediately by this command; depending on the
63 parameter you might need to rebuild the index with
64 <a class="link" href="sql-reindex.html" title="REINDEX"><code class="command">REINDEX</code></a>
65 to get the desired effects.
66 </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">RESET ( <em class="replaceable"><code>storage_parameter</code></em> [, ... ] )</code></span></dt><dd><p>
67 This form resets one or more index-method-specific storage parameters to
68 their defaults. As with <code class="literal">SET</code>, a <code class="literal">REINDEX</code>
69 might be needed to update the index entirely.
70 </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">ALTER [ COLUMN ] <em class="replaceable"><code>column_number</code></em> SET STATISTICS <em class="replaceable"><code>integer</code></em></code></span></dt><dd><p>
71 This form sets the per-column statistics-gathering target for
72 subsequent <a class="link" href="sql-analyze.html" title="ANALYZE"><code class="command">ANALYZE</code></a> operations, though can
73 be used only on index columns that are defined as an expression.
74 Since expressions lack a unique name, we refer to them using the
75 ordinal number of the index column.
76 The target can be set in the range 0 to 10000; alternatively, set it
77 to -1 to revert to using the system default statistics
78 target (<a class="xref" href="runtime-config-query.html#GUC-DEFAULT-STATISTICS-TARGET">default_statistics_target</a>).
79 For more information on the use of statistics by the
80 <span class="productname">PostgreSQL</span> query planner, refer to
81 <a class="xref" href="planner-stats.html" title="14.2. Statistics Used by the Planner">Section 14.2</a>.
82 </p></dd></dl></div><p>
83 </p></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.16.6"><h2>Parameters</h2><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">IF EXISTS</code></span></dt><dd><p>
84 Do not throw an error if the index does not exist. A notice is issued
86 </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>column_number</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
87 The ordinal number refers to the ordinal (left-to-right) position
89 </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
90 The name (possibly schema-qualified) of an existing index to
92 </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>new_name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
93 The new name for the index.
94 </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>tablespace_name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
95 The tablespace to which the index will be moved.
96 </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>extension_name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
97 The name of the extension that the index is to depend on.
98 </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>storage_parameter</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
99 The name of an index-method-specific storage parameter.
100 </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>value</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
101 The new value for an index-method-specific storage parameter.
102 This might be a number or a word depending on the parameter.
103 </p></dd></dl></div></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.16.7"><h2>Notes</h2><p>
104 These operations are also possible using
105 <a class="link" href="sql-altertable.html" title="ALTER TABLE"><code class="command">ALTER TABLE</code></a>.
106 <code class="command">ALTER INDEX</code> is in fact just an alias for the forms
107 of <code class="command">ALTER TABLE</code> that apply to indexes.
109 There was formerly an <code class="command">ALTER INDEX OWNER</code> variant, but
110 this is now ignored (with a warning). An index cannot have an owner
111 different from its table's owner. Changing the table's owner
112 automatically changes the index as well.
114 Changing any part of a system catalog index is not permitted.
115 </p></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.16.8"><h2>Examples</h2><p>
116 To rename an existing index:
117 </p><pre class="programlisting">
118 ALTER INDEX distributors RENAME TO suppliers;
121 To move an index to a different tablespace:
122 </p><pre class="programlisting">
123 ALTER INDEX distributors SET TABLESPACE fasttablespace;
126 To change an index's fill factor (assuming that the index method
128 </p><pre class="programlisting">
129 ALTER INDEX distributors SET (fillfactor = 75);
130 REINDEX INDEX distributors;
132 Set the statistics-gathering target for an expression index:
133 </p><pre class="programlisting">
134 CREATE INDEX coord_idx ON measured (x, y, (z + t));
135 ALTER INDEX coord_idx ALTER COLUMN 3 SET STATISTICS 1000;
136 </pre></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.16.9"><h2>Compatibility</h2><p>
137 <code class="command">ALTER INDEX</code> is a <span class="productname">PostgreSQL</span>
139 </p></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.16.10"><h2>See Also</h2><span class="simplelist"><a class="xref" href="sql-createindex.html" title="CREATE INDEX"><span class="refentrytitle">CREATE INDEX</span></a>, <a class="xref" href="sql-reindex.html" title="REINDEX"><span class="refentrytitle">REINDEX</span></a></span></div></div><div class="navfooter"><hr /><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="sql-altergroup.html" title="ALTER GROUP">Prev</a> </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="u" href="sql-commands.html" title="SQL Commands">Up</a></td><td width="40%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="sql-alterlanguage.html" title="ALTER LANGUAGE">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">ALTER GROUP </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html" title="PostgreSQL 18.0 Documentation">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top"> ALTER LANGUAGE</td></tr></table></div></body></html>