From: | Bruce Momjian <maillist(at)candle(dot)pha(dot)pa(dot)us> |
---|---|
To: | Chris Bitmead <chris(dot)bitmead(at)bigfoot(dot)com> |
Cc: | pgsql-hackers(at)hub(dot)org |
Subject: | Re: [HACKERS] ADD COLUMN |
Date: | 1999-05-15 08:55:50 |
Message-ID: | 199905150855.EAA11252@candle.pha.pa.us |
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Lists: | pgsql-hackers |
>
> Can somebody explain briefly what happens when you do an ALTER TABLE ADD
> COLUMN? Obviously it doesn't seem to go through the database and update
> every record with a new attribute there and then. Does it get updated
> the next time the record is retrieved or what is the story there?
NULL fields take up no space in rows, so adding NULL to the end of a row
really doesn't change the row, you just tell the catalog the column
exists, and the system sees a NULL there by default.
On updates, it remains the same unless you put something in the column.
--
Bruce Momjian | http://www.op.net/~candle
maillist(at)candle(dot)pha(dot)pa(dot)us | (610) 853-3000
+ If your life is a hard drive, | 830 Blythe Avenue
+ Christ can be your backup. | Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania 19026
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