5.3. Generated Columns
Prev | Up | Chapter 5. Data Definition | Home | Next

## 5.3. Generated Columns

A generated column is a special column that is always computed from other columns. Thus, it is for columns what a view is for tables. There are two kinds of generated columns: stored and virtual. A stored generated column is computed when it is written (inserted or updated) and occupies storage as if it were a normal column. A virtual generated column occupies no storage and is computed when it is read. Thus, a virtual generated column is similar to a view and a stored generated column is similar to a materialized view (except that it is always updated automatically). PostgreSQL currently implements only stored generated columns.

To create a generated column, use the `GENERATED ALWAYS AS` clause in `CREATE TABLE`, for example:

    CREATE TABLE people (
        ...,
        height_cm numeric,
        height_in numeric GENERATED ALWAYS AS (height_cm / 2.54) STORED
    );

The keyword `STORED` must be specified to choose the stored kind of generated column. See CREATE TABLE for more details.

A generated column cannot be written to directly. In `INSERT` or `UPDATE` commands, a value cannot be specified for a generated column, but the keyword `DEFAULT` may be specified.

Consider the differences between a column with a default and a generated column. The column default is evaluated once when the row is first inserted if no other value was provided; a generated column is updated whenever the row changes and cannot be overridden. A column default may not refer to other columns of the table; a generation expression would normally do so. A column default can use volatile functions, for example `random()` or functions referring to the current time; this is not allowed for generated columns.

Several restrictions apply to the definition of generated columns and tables involving generated columns:

- The generation expression can only use immutable functions and cannot use subqueries or reference anything other than the current row in any way.

- A generation expression cannot reference another generated column.

- A generation expression cannot reference a system column, except `tableoid`.

- A generated column cannot have a column default or an identity definition.

- A generated column cannot be part of a partition key.

- Foreign tables can have generated columns. See CREATE FOREIGN TABLE for details.

- For inheritance:

  - If a parent column is a generated column, a child column must also be a generated column using the same expression. In the definition of the child column, leave off the `GENERATED` clause, as it will be copied from the parent.

  - In case of multiple inheritance, if one parent column is a generated column, then all parent columns must be generated columns and with the same expression.

  - If a parent column is not a generated column, a child column may be defined to be a generated column or not.

Additional considerations apply to the use of generated columns.

- Generated columns maintain access privileges separately from their underlying base columns. So, it is possible to arrange it so that a particular role can read from a generated column but not from the underlying base columns.

- Generated columns are, conceptually, updated after `BEFORE` triggers have run. Therefore, changes made to base columns in a `BEFORE` trigger will be reflected in generated columns. But conversely, it is not allowed to access generated columns in `BEFORE` triggers.

Prev | Up | Next
5.2. Default Values | Home | 5.4. Constraints