Re: Sequence vs. Index Scan

"Aaron Bono" <postgresql(at)aranya(dot)com> writes:
> 9. -> Seq Scan on branch (cost=0.00..4.72 rows=1
> width=1281) (actual time=130129.988..157492.057 rows=1 loops=1)
> 10. Filter: ((start_day <= now()) AND
> ((end_day IS NULL) OR (end_day >= now())) AND (branch_id =
> get_branch_for_zip('22151'::character varying)))

There is something *awfully* wacko about that entry --- the fact that
the cost estimate is less than 5 units means that the planner thinks
there's 4 or fewer pages; either that's way wrong or the
get_branch_for_zip function is taking enormous amounts of time per row.
Have you tried timing that function on its own?

One possible reason for the performance difference is if you have
get_branch_for_zip marked as stable in one database and volatile in the
other --- volatile would prevent it from being used in an indexqual as
you'd like.

regards, tom lane