PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL is a powerful and versatile open source database system that can handle a wide range of applications and data types.

But did you know that you can also use graph data models within PostgreSQL with extensions? Graph data models are useful for representing and analyzing complex and interconnected data, such as social networks, recommendation systems, fraud detection, knowledge graphs, and more.

In this blogpost, I will introduce some of the most popular graph extensions to PostgreSQL and how they can enhance your database experience.

Apache AGE

Apache AGE is an extension that provides graph database functionality to PostgreSQL. AGE stands for A Graph Extension, and is inspired by Bitnine's fork of PostgreSQL 10, AgensGraph, which is a multi-model database.

Apache AGE allows you to store, query, and manipulate graph data in nodes and edges using hybrid queries that combine SQL and OpenCypher to access both relational and graph data simultaneously.

Apache AGE also comes with a web user interface tool called Apache AGE Viewer, which allows you to visualize and explore graph data in an intuitive and convenient way.

Apache AGE is an open source project and can be installed from the Official Website Download Page

If you are interested, you can visit their Official Website and Github Repo

pgRouting

pgRouting is an extension that provides geospatial routing functionality to PostgreSQL. pgRouting allows you to perform various types of network analysis on spatial data, such as finding the shortest path, the traveling salesman problem, the vehicle routing problem, the location-allocation problem, and more. pgRouting uses the PostGIS extension, which adds support for geographic objects to PostgreSQL, as a base.
pgRouting is an open source project.

Graphile

Graphile is a suite of tools that help you build high-performance GraphQL APIs on top of PostgreSQL. GraphQL is a query language for APIs that allows you to specify the exact data you need from the server in a declarative way. Graphile allows you to automatically generate a GraphQL schema from your PostgreSQL schema, or to customize it with plugins or code. Graphile also provides features such as live queries, subscriptions, authentication, authorization, validation, caching, batching, and more.

Conclusion

Graph extensions can greatly enhance your database functionality and performance by providing features that are not included in the core PostgreSQL or by offering more options and flexibility than the built-in ones. Graph extensions are one of the reasons why PostgreSQL is such a powerful and versatile database system.