1. Database Cluster, Databases and Tables

This chapter and the next chapter summarize the basic knowledge of PostgreSQL to help to read the subsequent chapters. This chapter describes the following topics:

Chapter Contents

1.1. The logical structure of a database cluster
1.2. The physical structure of a database cluster
1.3. The internal layout of a heap table file
1.4. The methods of writing and reading data to a table

If you are already familiar with these topics, you may skip over this chapter.