Using PostgreSQL extensions with Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL

You can extend the functionality of PostgreSQL by installing a variety of extensions and modules. For example, to work with spatial data you can install and use the PostGIS extension. For more information, see Managing spatial data with the PostGIS extension. As another example, if you want to improve data entry for very large tables, you can consider partitioning your data by using the pg_partman extension. To learn more, see Managing PostgreSQL partitions with the pg_partman extension.

In some cases, rather than installing an extension, you might add a specific module to the list of shared_preload_libraries in your RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance's custom DB parameter group. Typically, the default DB cluster parameter group loads only the pg_stat_statements, but several other modules are available to add to the list. For example, you can add scheduling capability by adding the pg_cron module, as detailed in Scheduling maintenance with the PostgreSQL pg_cron extension. As another example, you can log query execution plans by loading the auto_explain module. To learn more, see Logging execution plans of queries in the Amazon knowledge center.

Depending on your version of RDS for PostgreSQL, installing an extension might require rds_superuser permissions, as follows:

You can also specify precisely which extensions can be installed on your RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance, by listing them in the rds.allowed_extensions parameter. For more information, see Restricting installation of PostgreSQL extensions.

To learn more about the rds_superuser role, see Understanding PostgreSQL roles and permissions.