--- title: Supported PostgreSQL extensions description: This page presents the PostgreSQL extensions supported by Serverless SQL Databases and the steps to use them tags: sql-databases serverless database extensions postgresql pgvector postgis timescaledb dates: validation: 2025-10-23 posted: 2024-10-08 --- import Requirements from '@macros/iam/requirements.mdx' Serverless SQL Databases support the most popular PostgreSQL extensions. Due to autoscaling and built-in connection pooling, some [advanced features of extensions might be limited or require workarounds](#supported-extensions). - A Scaleway account logged into the [console](https://console.scaleway.com) - [Owner](/iam/concepts/#owner) status or [IAM permissions](/iam/concepts/#permission) allowing you to perform actions in the intended Organization - [Created a Serverless SQL Database](/serverless-sql-databases/how-to/create-a-database/) ## Install an extension 1. [Connect to your Serverless SQL Database](/serverless-sql-databases/quickstart/#how-to-connect-to-a-database) with a PostgreSQL client (such as `psql`): ```bash psql "postgres://[user-or-application-id]:[api-secret-key]@[database-hostname]:5432/[database-name]?sslmode=require" ``` 2. Run the following command to create an extension using SQL: ```sql CREATE EXTENSION extension_name; ``` 3. Use the supported features of the extension. For instance, if you installed `pgvector` with `CREATE EXTENSION vector`, you can create a vector and query it: ```sql CREATE TABLE songs (id bigserial PRIMARY KEY, embedding vector(3)); INSERT INTO songs (embedding) VALUES ('[1,1,1]'), ('[2,2,2]'), ('[0,1,2]'); SELECT * FROM songs ORDER BY embedding <-> '[3,3,3]' LIMIT 5; ``` This example will find the nearest vectors (using L2 distance) from '[3,3,3]': ```sql id | embedding ----+----------- 2 | [2,2,2] 1 | [1,1,1] 3 | [0,1,2] ``` ## Supported extensions The following PostgreSQL extensions are available with Serverless SQL Databases: | Extension | Description and known limitations | |------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | address_standardizer | Parses addresses into their constituent elements, typically used in the geocoding normalization process. | | address_standardizer_data_us | Provides a dataset example for the US Address Standardizer extension. | | bloom | Implements a Bloom filter-based index, ideal for situations where space efficiency is crucial. | | btree_gin | Adds support for indexing common data types using the GIN (Generalized Inverted Index) method. | | btree_gist | Adds support for indexing common data types using the GiST (Generalized Search Tree) method. | | citext | Provides a case-insensitive character string data type for easier text comparison. | | cube | Defines a data type for representing multidimensional cubes, useful in mathematical and geometrical computations. | | dict_int | Offers a text search dictionary template optimized for integer values. | | dict_xsyn | Provides a text search dictionary template for advanced synonym processing, improving search accuracy. Features requiring direct access to the file system will not be supported (eg. custom synonym lists). | | earthdistance | Calculates great-circle distances between points on Earth, useful in geographical applications. | | fuzzystrmatch | Determines similarities and differences between strings, helpful for tasks like data deduplication. | | hstore | Stores sets of key-value pairs in a single value, enabling a flexible schema for semi-structured data. | | intagg | Aggregates and enumerates integer values, though it is considered obsolete since PG 8.4, and official support has been integrated in PostgreSQL directly | | intarray | Provides functions, operators, and indexing support for one-dimensional arrays of integers, enhancing array processing. | | isn | Supports data types for international product numbering standards, such as ISBN and EAN. | | ltree | Defines a data type for representing tree-like structures in a hierarchical manner, facilitating complex data modeling. | | pg_cron | Schedules jobs within PostgreSQL using a cron-like syntax, automating routine database tasks. `pg_cron` requires the database to be in an active state permanently, and thus that you provision at least one vCPU for the extension to properly work. | | pg_prewarm | Preloads relation data into memory to reduce initial disk I/O latency and improve performance. | | pg_stat_statements | Tracks planning and execution statistics for all SQL statements, aiding in performance tuning. | | pg_trgm | Measures text similarity and provides index searching based on trigrams, enhancing text search capabilities. | | pgcrypto | Provides cryptographic functions for data encryption, decryption, and hashing, essential for secure data storage. | | pgrouting | Extends PostgreSQL and PostGIS with geospatial routing capabilities, enabling the calculation of shortest paths and other routing operations. | | pgrowlocks | Displays information about row-level locking, helping in the diagnosis of concurrency issues. | | pgvector | Supports vector similarity search, often used for storing and searching embeddings in machine learning applications. [Query options](https://github.com/pgvector/pgvector?tab=readme-ov-file#query-options) using `SET` command require [to be used in a single transaction](/serverless-sql-databases/reference-content/known-differences/#unsupported-configuration-commands) (i.e. between `BEGIN; (...) COMMIT;`) | | plpgsql | Enables the use of PL/pgSQL, a procedural language for PostgreSQL that allows complex control structures and query manipulation. | | postgis | Adds support for geographic objects, allowing location queries to be run in SQL, and is the foundation of the geographic information system (GIS) functionality in PostgreSQL. | | postgis_raster | Implements raster data support in PostGIS, enabling analysis and storage of raster images alongside vector data. | | postgis_sfcgal | Adds advanced 3D geometry functions to PostGIS, leveraging the SFCGAL library for complex spatial operations. | | postgis_tiger_geocoder | Provides geocoding and reverse geocoding capabilities based on the US Census TIGER data within PostGIS. | | postgis_topology | Supports topological data models in PostGIS, allowing for advanced spatial relationships and analyses. | | tablefunc | Offers functions for manipulating entire tables, including crosstab operations for pivot tables. | | timescaledb | Enables efficient handling and analysis of time-series data, extending PostgreSQL with specialized time-series functions. | | tsm_system_rows | Implements a `TABLESAMPLE` method that limits the number of rows returned, useful for sampling large datasets. | | tsm_system_time | Implements a `TABLESAMPLE` method that limits rows based on a time duration, useful for time-based sampling. | | unaccent | Provides a text search dictionary that removes accents from characters, improving text search accuracy. | | uuid-ossp | Generates universally unique identifiers (UUIDs), essential for ensuring data uniqueness across distributed systems. |