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diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/html/sql-createaggregate.html b/doc/src/sgml/html/sql-createaggregate.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f691383 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/src/sgml/html/sql-createaggregate.html @@ -0,0 +1,510 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?> +<!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>CREATE AGGREGATE</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-create-access-method.html" title="CREATE ACCESS METHOD" /><link rel="next" href="sql-createcast.html" title="CREATE CAST" /></head><body id="docContent" class="container-fluid col-10"><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="5" align="center">CREATE AGGREGATE</th></tr><tr><td width="10%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="sql-create-access-method.html" title="CREATE ACCESS METHOD">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 15.5 Documentation">Home</a></td><td width="10%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="sql-createcast.html" title="CREATE CAST">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr /></div><div class="refentry" id="SQL-CREATEAGGREGATE"><div class="titlepage"></div><a id="id-1.9.3.57.1" class="indexterm"></a><div class="refnamediv"><h2><span class="refentrytitle">CREATE AGGREGATE</span></h2><p>CREATE AGGREGATE — define a new aggregate function</p></div><div class="refsynopsisdiv"><h2>Synopsis</h2><pre class="synopsis"> +CREATE [ OR REPLACE ] AGGREGATE <em class="replaceable"><code>name</code></em> ( [ <em class="replaceable"><code>argmode</code></em> ] [ <em class="replaceable"><code>argname</code></em> ] <em class="replaceable"><code>arg_data_type</code></em> [ , ... ] ) ( + SFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>sfunc</code></em>, + STYPE = <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em> + [ , SSPACE = <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_size</code></em> ] + [ , FINALFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>ffunc</code></em> ] + [ , FINALFUNC_EXTRA ] + [ , FINALFUNC_MODIFY = { READ_ONLY | SHAREABLE | READ_WRITE } ] + [ , COMBINEFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>combinefunc</code></em> ] + [ , SERIALFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>serialfunc</code></em> ] + [ , DESERIALFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>deserialfunc</code></em> ] + [ , INITCOND = <em class="replaceable"><code>initial_condition</code></em> ] + [ , MSFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>msfunc</code></em> ] + [ , MINVFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>minvfunc</code></em> ] + [ , MSTYPE = <em class="replaceable"><code>mstate_data_type</code></em> ] + [ , MSSPACE = <em class="replaceable"><code>mstate_data_size</code></em> ] + [ , MFINALFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>mffunc</code></em> ] + [ , MFINALFUNC_EXTRA ] + [ , MFINALFUNC_MODIFY = { READ_ONLY | SHAREABLE | READ_WRITE } ] + [ , MINITCOND = <em class="replaceable"><code>minitial_condition</code></em> ] + [ , SORTOP = <em class="replaceable"><code>sort_operator</code></em> ] + [ , PARALLEL = { SAFE | RESTRICTED | UNSAFE } ] +) + +CREATE [ OR REPLACE ] AGGREGATE <em class="replaceable"><code>name</code></em> ( [ [ <em class="replaceable"><code>argmode</code></em> ] [ <em class="replaceable"><code>argname</code></em> ] <em class="replaceable"><code>arg_data_type</code></em> [ , ... ] ] + ORDER BY [ <em class="replaceable"><code>argmode</code></em> ] [ <em class="replaceable"><code>argname</code></em> ] <em class="replaceable"><code>arg_data_type</code></em> [ , ... ] ) ( + SFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>sfunc</code></em>, + STYPE = <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em> + [ , SSPACE = <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_size</code></em> ] + [ , FINALFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>ffunc</code></em> ] + [ , FINALFUNC_EXTRA ] + [ , FINALFUNC_MODIFY = { READ_ONLY | SHAREABLE | READ_WRITE } ] + [ , INITCOND = <em class="replaceable"><code>initial_condition</code></em> ] + [ , PARALLEL = { SAFE | RESTRICTED | UNSAFE } ] + [ , HYPOTHETICAL ] +) + +<span class="phrase">or the old syntax</span> + +CREATE [ OR REPLACE ] AGGREGATE <em class="replaceable"><code>name</code></em> ( + BASETYPE = <em class="replaceable"><code>base_type</code></em>, + SFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>sfunc</code></em>, + STYPE = <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em> + [ , SSPACE = <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_size</code></em> ] + [ , FINALFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>ffunc</code></em> ] + [ , FINALFUNC_EXTRA ] + [ , FINALFUNC_MODIFY = { READ_ONLY | SHAREABLE | READ_WRITE } ] + [ , COMBINEFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>combinefunc</code></em> ] + [ , SERIALFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>serialfunc</code></em> ] + [ , DESERIALFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>deserialfunc</code></em> ] + [ , INITCOND = <em class="replaceable"><code>initial_condition</code></em> ] + [ , MSFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>msfunc</code></em> ] + [ , MINVFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>minvfunc</code></em> ] + [ , MSTYPE = <em class="replaceable"><code>mstate_data_type</code></em> ] + [ , MSSPACE = <em class="replaceable"><code>mstate_data_size</code></em> ] + [ , MFINALFUNC = <em class="replaceable"><code>mffunc</code></em> ] + [ , MFINALFUNC_EXTRA ] + [ , MFINALFUNC_MODIFY = { READ_ONLY | SHAREABLE | READ_WRITE } ] + [ , MINITCOND = <em class="replaceable"><code>minitial_condition</code></em> ] + [ , SORTOP = <em class="replaceable"><code>sort_operator</code></em> ] +) +</pre></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.57.5"><h2>Description</h2><p> + <code class="command">CREATE AGGREGATE</code> defines a new aggregate function. + <code class="command">CREATE OR REPLACE AGGREGATE</code> will either define a new + aggregate function or replace an existing definition. Some basic and + commonly-used aggregate functions are included with the distribution; they + are documented in <a class="xref" href="functions-aggregate.html" title="9.21. Aggregate Functions">Section 9.21</a>. If one defines new + types or needs an aggregate function not already provided, then + <code class="command">CREATE AGGREGATE</code> can be used to provide the desired + features. + </p><p> + When replacing an existing definition, the argument types, result type, + and number of direct arguments may not be changed. Also, the new definition + must be of the same kind (ordinary aggregate, ordered-set aggregate, or + hypothetical-set aggregate) as the old one. + </p><p> + If a schema name is given (for example, <code class="literal">CREATE AGGREGATE + myschema.myagg ...</code>) then the aggregate function is created in the + specified schema. Otherwise it is created in the current schema. + </p><p> + An aggregate function is identified by its name and input data type(s). + Two aggregates in the same schema can have the same name if they operate on + different input types. The + name and input data type(s) of an aggregate must also be distinct from + the name and input data type(s) of every ordinary function in the same + schema. + This behavior is identical to overloading of ordinary function names + (see <a class="xref" href="sql-createfunction.html" title="CREATE FUNCTION"><span class="refentrytitle">CREATE FUNCTION</span></a>). + </p><p> + A simple aggregate function is made from one or two ordinary + functions: + a state transition function + <em class="replaceable"><code>sfunc</code></em>, + and an optional final calculation function + <em class="replaceable"><code>ffunc</code></em>. + These are used as follows: +</p><pre class="programlisting"> +<em class="replaceable"><code>sfunc</code></em>( internal-state, next-data-values ) ---> next-internal-state +<em class="replaceable"><code>ffunc</code></em>( internal-state ) ---> aggregate-value +</pre><p> + </p><p> + <span class="productname">PostgreSQL</span> creates a temporary variable + of data type <em class="replaceable"><code>stype</code></em> + to hold the current internal state of the aggregate. At each input row, + the aggregate argument value(s) are calculated and + the state transition function is invoked with the current state value + and the new argument value(s) to calculate a new + internal state value. After all the rows have been processed, + the final function is invoked once to calculate the aggregate's return + value. If there is no final function then the ending state value + is returned as-is. + </p><p> + An aggregate function can provide an initial condition, + that is, an initial value for the internal state value. + This is specified and stored in the database as a value of type + <code class="type">text</code>, but it must be a valid external representation + of a constant of the state value data type. If it is not supplied + then the state value starts out null. + </p><p> + If the state transition function is declared <span class="quote">“<span class="quote">strict</span>”</span>, + then it cannot be called with null inputs. With such a transition + function, aggregate execution behaves as follows. Rows with any null input + values are ignored (the function is not called and the previous state value + is retained). If the initial state value is null, then at the first row + with all-nonnull input values, the first argument value replaces the state + value, and the transition function is invoked at each subsequent row with + all-nonnull input values. + This is handy for implementing aggregates like <code class="function">max</code>. + Note that this behavior is only available when + <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em> + is the same as the first + <em class="replaceable"><code>arg_data_type</code></em>. + When these types are different, you must supply a nonnull initial + condition or use a nonstrict transition function. + </p><p> + If the state transition function is not strict, then it will be called + unconditionally at each input row, and must deal with null inputs + and null state values for itself. This allows the aggregate + author to have full control over the aggregate's handling of null values. + </p><p> + If the final function is declared <span class="quote">“<span class="quote">strict</span>”</span>, then it will not + be called when the ending state value is null; instead a null result + will be returned automatically. (Of course this is just the normal + behavior of strict functions.) In any case the final function has + the option of returning a null value. For example, the final function for + <code class="function">avg</code> returns null when it sees there were zero + input rows. + </p><p> + Sometimes it is useful to declare the final function as taking not just + the state value, but extra parameters corresponding to the aggregate's + input values. The main reason for doing this is if the final function + is polymorphic and the state value's data type would be inadequate to + pin down the result type. These extra parameters are always passed as + NULL (and so the final function must not be strict when + the <code class="literal">FINALFUNC_EXTRA</code> option is used), but nonetheless they + are valid parameters. The final function could for example make use + of <code class="function">get_fn_expr_argtype</code> to identify the actual argument type + in the current call. + </p><p> + An aggregate can optionally support <em class="firstterm">moving-aggregate mode</em>, + as described in <a class="xref" href="xaggr.html#XAGGR-MOVING-AGGREGATES" title="38.12.1. Moving-Aggregate Mode">Section 38.12.1</a>. This requires + specifying the <code class="literal">MSFUNC</code>, <code class="literal">MINVFUNC</code>, + and <code class="literal">MSTYPE</code> parameters, and optionally + the <code class="literal">MSSPACE</code>, <code class="literal">MFINALFUNC</code>, + <code class="literal">MFINALFUNC_EXTRA</code>, <code class="literal">MFINALFUNC_MODIFY</code>, + and <code class="literal">MINITCOND</code> parameters. Except for <code class="literal">MINVFUNC</code>, + these parameters work like the corresponding simple-aggregate parameters + without <code class="literal">M</code>; they define a separate implementation of the + aggregate that includes an inverse transition function. + </p><p> + The syntax with <code class="literal">ORDER BY</code> in the parameter list creates + a special type of aggregate called an <em class="firstterm">ordered-set + aggregate</em>; or if <code class="literal">HYPOTHETICAL</code> is specified, then + a <em class="firstterm">hypothetical-set aggregate</em> is created. These + aggregates operate over groups of sorted values in order-dependent ways, + so that specification of an input sort order is an essential part of a + call. Also, they can have <em class="firstterm">direct</em> arguments, which are + arguments that are evaluated only once per aggregation rather than once + per input row. Hypothetical-set aggregates are a subclass of ordered-set + aggregates in which some of the direct arguments are required to match, + in number and data types, the aggregated argument columns. This allows + the values of those direct arguments to be added to the collection of + aggregate-input rows as an additional <span class="quote">“<span class="quote">hypothetical</span>”</span> row. + </p><p> + An aggregate can optionally support <em class="firstterm">partial aggregation</em>, + as described in <a class="xref" href="xaggr.html#XAGGR-PARTIAL-AGGREGATES" title="38.12.4. Partial Aggregation">Section 38.12.4</a>. + This requires specifying the <code class="literal">COMBINEFUNC</code> parameter. + If the <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em> + is <code class="type">internal</code>, it's usually also appropriate to provide the + <code class="literal">SERIALFUNC</code> and <code class="literal">DESERIALFUNC</code> parameters so that + parallel aggregation is possible. Note that the aggregate must also be + marked <code class="literal">PARALLEL SAFE</code> to enable parallel aggregation. + </p><p> + Aggregates that behave like <code class="function">MIN</code> or <code class="function">MAX</code> can + sometimes be optimized by looking into an index instead of scanning every + input row. If this aggregate can be so optimized, indicate it by + specifying a <em class="firstterm">sort operator</em>. The basic requirement is that + the aggregate must yield the first element in the sort ordering induced by + the operator; in other words: +</p><pre class="programlisting"> +SELECT agg(col) FROM tab; +</pre><p> + must be equivalent to: +</p><pre class="programlisting"> +SELECT col FROM tab ORDER BY col USING sortop LIMIT 1; +</pre><p> + Further assumptions are that the aggregate ignores null inputs, and that + it delivers a null result if and only if there were no non-null inputs. + Ordinarily, a data type's <code class="literal"><</code> operator is the proper sort + operator for <code class="function">MIN</code>, and <code class="literal">></code> is the proper sort + operator for <code class="function">MAX</code>. Note that the optimization will never + actually take effect unless the specified operator is the <span class="quote">“<span class="quote">less + than</span>”</span> or <span class="quote">“<span class="quote">greater than</span>”</span> strategy member of a B-tree + index operator class. + </p><p> + To be able to create an aggregate function, you must + have <code class="literal">USAGE</code> privilege on the argument types, the state + type(s), and the return type, as well as <code class="literal">EXECUTE</code> + privilege on the supporting functions. + </p></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.57.6"><h2>Parameters</h2><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The name (optionally schema-qualified) of the aggregate function + to create. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>argmode</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The mode of an argument: <code class="literal">IN</code> or <code class="literal">VARIADIC</code>. + (Aggregate functions do not support <code class="literal">OUT</code> arguments.) + If omitted, the default is <code class="literal">IN</code>. Only the last argument + can be marked <code class="literal">VARIADIC</code>. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>argname</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The name of an argument. This is currently only useful for + documentation purposes. If omitted, the argument has no name. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>arg_data_type</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + An input data type on which this aggregate function operates. + To create a zero-argument aggregate function, write <code class="literal">*</code> + in place of the list of argument specifications. (An example of such an + aggregate is <code class="function">count(*)</code>.) + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>base_type</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + In the old syntax for <code class="command">CREATE AGGREGATE</code>, the input data type + is specified by a <code class="literal">basetype</code> parameter rather than being + written next to the aggregate name. Note that this syntax allows + only one input parameter. To define a zero-argument aggregate function + with this syntax, specify the <code class="literal">basetype</code> as + <code class="literal">"ANY"</code> (not <code class="literal">*</code>). + Ordered-set aggregates cannot be defined with the old syntax. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>sfunc</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The name of the state transition function to be called for each + input row. For a normal <em class="replaceable"><code>N</code></em>-argument + aggregate function, the <em class="replaceable"><code>sfunc</code></em> + must take <em class="replaceable"><code>N</code></em>+1 arguments, + the first being of type <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em> and the rest + matching the declared input data type(s) of the aggregate. + The function must return a value of type <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em>. This function + takes the current state value and the current input data value(s), + and returns the next state value. + </p><p> + For ordered-set (including hypothetical-set) aggregates, the state + transition function receives only the current state value and the + aggregated arguments, not the direct arguments. Otherwise it is the + same. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The data type for the aggregate's state value. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_size</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The approximate average size (in bytes) of the aggregate's state value. + If this parameter is omitted or is zero, a default estimate is used + based on the <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em>. + The planner uses this value to estimate the memory required for a + grouped aggregate query. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>ffunc</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The name of the final function called to compute the aggregate's + result after all input rows have been traversed. + For a normal aggregate, this function + must take a single argument of type <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em>. The return + data type of the aggregate is defined as the return type of this + function. If <em class="replaceable"><code>ffunc</code></em> + is not specified, then the ending state value is used as the + aggregate's result, and the return type is <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em>. + </p><p> + For ordered-set (including hypothetical-set) aggregates, the + final function receives not only the final state value, + but also the values of all the direct arguments. + </p><p> + If <code class="literal">FINALFUNC_EXTRA</code> is specified, then in addition to the + final state value and any direct arguments, the final function + receives extra NULL values corresponding to the aggregate's regular + (aggregated) arguments. This is mainly useful to allow correct + resolution of the aggregate result type when a polymorphic aggregate + is being defined. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">FINALFUNC_MODIFY</code> = { <code class="literal">READ_ONLY</code> | <code class="literal">SHAREABLE</code> | <code class="literal">READ_WRITE</code> }</span></dt><dd><p> + This option specifies whether the final function is a pure function + that does not modify its arguments. <code class="literal">READ_ONLY</code> indicates + it does not; the other two values indicate that it may change the + transition state value. See <a class="xref" href="sql-createaggregate.html#SQL-CREATEAGGREGATE-NOTES" title="Notes">Notes</a> + below for more detail. The + default is <code class="literal">READ_ONLY</code>, except for ordered-set aggregates, + for which the default is <code class="literal">READ_WRITE</code>. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>combinefunc</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The <em class="replaceable"><code>combinefunc</code></em> function + may optionally be specified to allow the aggregate function to support + partial aggregation. If provided, + the <em class="replaceable"><code>combinefunc</code></em> must + combine two <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em> + values, each containing the result of aggregation over some subset of + the input values, to produce a + new <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em> that + represents the result of aggregating over both sets of inputs. This + function can be thought of as + an <em class="replaceable"><code>sfunc</code></em>, where instead of + acting upon an individual input row and adding it to the running + aggregate state, it adds another aggregate state to the running state. + </p><p> + The <em class="replaceable"><code>combinefunc</code></em> must be + declared as taking two arguments of + the <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em> and + returning a value of + the <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em>. + Optionally this function may be <span class="quote">“<span class="quote">strict</span>”</span>. In this case the + function will not be called when either of the input states are null; + the other state will be taken as the correct result. + </p><p> + For aggregate functions + whose <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em> + is <code class="type">internal</code>, + the <em class="replaceable"><code>combinefunc</code></em> must not + be strict. In this case + the <em class="replaceable"><code>combinefunc</code></em> must + ensure that null states are handled correctly and that the state being + returned is properly stored in the aggregate memory context. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>serialfunc</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + An aggregate function + whose <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em> + is <code class="type">internal</code> can participate in parallel aggregation only if it + has a <em class="replaceable"><code>serialfunc</code></em> function, + which must serialize the aggregate state into a <code class="type">bytea</code> value for + transmission to another process. This function must take a single + argument of type <code class="type">internal</code> and return type <code class="type">bytea</code>. A + corresponding <em class="replaceable"><code>deserialfunc</code></em> + is also required. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>deserialfunc</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + Deserialize a previously serialized aggregate state back into + <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em>. This + function must take two arguments of types <code class="type">bytea</code> + and <code class="type">internal</code>, and produce a result of type <code class="type">internal</code>. + (Note: the second, <code class="type">internal</code> argument is unused, but is required + for type safety reasons.) + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>initial_condition</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The initial setting for the state value. This must be a string + constant in the form accepted for the data type <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em>. If not + specified, the state value starts out null. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>msfunc</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The name of the forward state transition function to be called for each + input row in moving-aggregate mode. This is exactly like the regular + transition function, except that its first argument and result are of + type <em class="replaceable"><code>mstate_data_type</code></em>, which might be different + from <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_type</code></em>. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>minvfunc</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The name of the inverse state transition function to be used in + moving-aggregate mode. This function has the same argument and + result types as <em class="replaceable"><code>msfunc</code></em>, but it is used to remove + a value from the current aggregate state, rather than add a value to + it. The inverse transition function must have the same strictness + attribute as the forward state transition function. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>mstate_data_type</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The data type for the aggregate's state value, when using + moving-aggregate mode. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>mstate_data_size</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The approximate average size (in bytes) of the aggregate's state + value, when using moving-aggregate mode. This works the same as + <em class="replaceable"><code>state_data_size</code></em>. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>mffunc</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The name of the final function called to compute the aggregate's + result after all input rows have been traversed, when using + moving-aggregate mode. This works the same as <em class="replaceable"><code>ffunc</code></em>, + except that its first argument's type + is <em class="replaceable"><code>mstate_data_type</code></em> and extra dummy arguments are + specified by writing <code class="literal">MFINALFUNC_EXTRA</code>. + The aggregate result type determined by <em class="replaceable"><code>mffunc</code></em> + or <em class="replaceable"><code>mstate_data_type</code></em> must match that determined by the + aggregate's regular implementation. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">MFINALFUNC_MODIFY</code> = { <code class="literal">READ_ONLY</code> | <code class="literal">SHAREABLE</code> | <code class="literal">READ_WRITE</code> }</span></dt><dd><p> + This option is like <code class="literal">FINALFUNC_MODIFY</code>, but it describes + the behavior of the moving-aggregate final function. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>minitial_condition</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The initial setting for the state value, when using moving-aggregate + mode. This works the same as <em class="replaceable"><code>initial_condition</code></em>. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>sort_operator</code></em></span></dt><dd><p> + The associated sort operator for a <code class="function">MIN</code>- or + <code class="function">MAX</code>-like aggregate. + This is just an operator name (possibly schema-qualified). + The operator is assumed to have the same input data types as + the aggregate (which must be a single-argument normal aggregate). + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">PARALLEL =</code> { <code class="literal">SAFE</code> | <code class="literal">RESTRICTED</code> | <code class="literal">UNSAFE</code> }</span></dt><dd><p> + The meanings of <code class="literal">PARALLEL SAFE</code>, <code class="literal">PARALLEL + RESTRICTED</code>, and <code class="literal">PARALLEL UNSAFE</code> are the same as + in <a class="link" href="sql-createfunction.html" title="CREATE FUNCTION"><code class="command">CREATE FUNCTION</code></a>. An aggregate will not be + considered for parallelization if it is marked <code class="literal">PARALLEL + UNSAFE</code> (which is the default!) or <code class="literal">PARALLEL RESTRICTED</code>. + Note that the parallel-safety markings of the aggregate's support + functions are not consulted by the planner, only the marking of the + aggregate itself. + </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">HYPOTHETICAL</code></span></dt><dd><p> + For ordered-set aggregates only, this flag specifies that the aggregate + arguments are to be processed according to the requirements for + hypothetical-set aggregates: that is, the last few direct arguments must + match the data types of the aggregated (<code class="literal">WITHIN GROUP</code>) + arguments. The <code class="literal">HYPOTHETICAL</code> flag has no effect on + run-time behavior, only on parse-time resolution of the data types and + collations of the aggregate's arguments. + </p></dd></dl></div><p> + The parameters of <code class="command">CREATE AGGREGATE</code> can be + written in any order, not just the order illustrated above. + </p></div><div class="refsect1" id="SQL-CREATEAGGREGATE-NOTES"><h2>Notes</h2><p> + In parameters that specify support function names, you can write + a schema name if needed, for example <code class="literal">SFUNC = public.sum</code>. + Do not write argument types there, however — the argument types + of the support functions are determined from other parameters. + </p><p> + Ordinarily, PostgreSQL functions are expected to be true functions that + do not modify their input values. However, an aggregate transition + function, <span class="emphasis"><em>when used in the context of an aggregate</em></span>, + is allowed to cheat and modify its transition-state argument in place. + This can provide substantial performance benefits compared to making + a fresh copy of the transition state each time. + </p><p> + Likewise, while an aggregate final function is normally expected not to + modify its input values, sometimes it is impractical to avoid modifying + the transition-state argument. Such behavior must be declared using + the <code class="literal">FINALFUNC_MODIFY</code> parameter. + The <code class="literal">READ_WRITE</code> + value indicates that the final function modifies the transition state in + unspecified ways. This value prevents use of the aggregate as a window + function, and it also prevents merging of transition states for aggregate + calls that share the same input values and transition functions. + The <code class="literal">SHAREABLE</code> value indicates that the transition function + cannot be applied after the final function, but multiple final-function + calls can be performed on the ending transition state value. This value + prevents use of the aggregate as a window function, but it allows merging + of transition states. (That is, the optimization of interest here is not + applying the same final function repeatedly, but applying different final + functions to the same ending transition state value. This is allowed as + long as none of the final functions are marked <code class="literal">READ_WRITE</code>.) + </p><p> + If an aggregate supports moving-aggregate mode, it will improve + calculation efficiency when the aggregate is used as a window function + for a window with moving frame start (that is, a frame start mode other + than <code class="literal">UNBOUNDED PRECEDING</code>). Conceptually, the forward + transition function adds input values to the aggregate's state when + they enter the window frame from the bottom, and the inverse transition + function removes them again when they leave the frame at the top. So, + when values are removed, they are always removed in the same order they + were added. Whenever the inverse transition function is invoked, it will + thus receive the earliest added but not yet removed argument value(s). + The inverse transition function can assume that at least one row will + remain in the current state after it removes the oldest row. (When this + would not be the case, the window function mechanism simply starts a + fresh aggregation, rather than using the inverse transition function.) + </p><p> + The forward transition function for moving-aggregate mode is not + allowed to return NULL as the new state value. If the inverse + transition function returns NULL, this is taken as an indication that + the inverse function cannot reverse the state calculation for this + particular input, and so the aggregate calculation will be redone from + scratch for the current frame starting position. This convention + allows moving-aggregate mode to be used in situations where there are + some infrequent cases that are impractical to reverse out of the + running state value. + </p><p> + If no moving-aggregate implementation is supplied, + the aggregate can still be used with moving frames, + but <span class="productname">PostgreSQL</span> will recompute the whole + aggregation whenever the start of the frame moves. + Note that whether or not the aggregate supports moving-aggregate + mode, <span class="productname">PostgreSQL</span> can handle a moving frame + end without recalculation; this is done by continuing to add new values + to the aggregate's state. This is why use of an aggregate as a window + function requires that the final function be read-only: it must + not damage the aggregate's state value, so that the aggregation can be + continued even after an aggregate result value has been obtained for + one set of frame boundaries. + </p><p> + The syntax for ordered-set aggregates allows <code class="literal">VARIADIC</code> + to be specified for both the last direct parameter and the last + aggregated (<code class="literal">WITHIN GROUP</code>) parameter. However, the + current implementation restricts use of <code class="literal">VARIADIC</code> + in two ways. First, ordered-set aggregates can only use + <code class="literal">VARIADIC "any"</code>, not other variadic array types. + Second, if the last direct parameter is <code class="literal">VARIADIC "any"</code>, + then there can be only one aggregated parameter and it must also + be <code class="literal">VARIADIC "any"</code>. (In the representation used in the + system catalogs, these two parameters are merged into a single + <code class="literal">VARIADIC "any"</code> item, since <code class="structname">pg_proc</code> cannot + represent functions with more than one <code class="literal">VARIADIC</code> parameter.) + If the aggregate is a hypothetical-set aggregate, the direct arguments + that match the <code class="literal">VARIADIC "any"</code> parameter are the hypothetical + ones; any preceding parameters represent additional direct arguments + that are not constrained to match the aggregated arguments. + </p><p> + Currently, ordered-set aggregates do not need to support + moving-aggregate mode, since they cannot be used as window functions. + </p><p> + Partial (including parallel) aggregation is currently not supported for + ordered-set aggregates. Also, it will never be used for aggregate calls + that include <code class="literal">DISTINCT</code> or <code class="literal">ORDER BY</code> clauses, since + those semantics cannot be supported during partial aggregation. + </p></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.57.8"><h2>Examples</h2><p> + See <a class="xref" href="xaggr.html" title="38.12. User-Defined Aggregates">Section 38.12</a>. + </p></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.57.9"><h2>Compatibility</h2><p> + <code class="command">CREATE AGGREGATE</code> is a + <span class="productname">PostgreSQL</span> language extension. The SQL + standard does not provide for user-defined aggregate functions. + </p></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.57.10"><h2>See Also</h2><span class="simplelist"><a class="xref" href="sql-alteraggregate.html" title="ALTER AGGREGATE"><span class="refentrytitle">ALTER AGGREGATE</span></a>, <a class="xref" href="sql-dropaggregate.html" title="DROP AGGREGATE"><span class="refentrytitle">DROP AGGREGATE</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-create-access-method.html" title="CREATE ACCESS METHOD">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-createcast.html" title="CREATE CAST">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">CREATE ACCESS METHOD </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html" title="PostgreSQL 15.5 Documentation">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top"> CREATE CAST</td></tr></table></div></body></html>
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