Commit c20fd088 authored by Bruce Momjian's avatar Bruce Momjian

doc: Simplify mention of unique indexes for NULL control

Discussion: https://postgr.es/m/2304.1586532634@sss.pgh.pa.us

Backpatch-through: 9.5
parent 449e14a5
...@@ -704,15 +704,6 @@ CREATE INDEX test1_lower_col1_idx ON test1 (lower(col1)); ...@@ -704,15 +704,6 @@ CREATE INDEX test1_lower_col1_idx ON test1 (lower(col1));
</programlisting> </programlisting>
</para> </para>
<para>
Expression indexes also allow control over the scope of unique indexes.
For example, this unique index prevents duplicate integer values from
being stored in a <type>double precision</type>-typed column:
<programlisting>
CREATE UNIQUE INDEX test1_uniq_int ON tests ((floor(double_col)))
</programlisting>
</para>
<para> <para>
If we were to declare this index <literal>UNIQUE</literal>, it would prevent If we were to declare this index <literal>UNIQUE</literal>, it would prevent
creation of rows whose <literal>col1</literal> values differ only in case, creation of rows whose <literal>col1</literal> values differ only in case,
...@@ -952,18 +943,11 @@ CREATE UNIQUE INDEX tests_success_constraint ON tests (subject, target) ...@@ -952,18 +943,11 @@ CREATE UNIQUE INDEX tests_success_constraint ON tests (subject, target)
WHERE success; WHERE success;
</programlisting> </programlisting>
This is a particularly efficient approach when there are few This is a particularly efficient approach when there are few
successful tests and many unsuccessful ones. successful tests and many unsuccessful ones. It is also possible to
allow only one null in a column by creating a unique partial index
with an <literal>IS NULL</literal> restriction.
</para> </para>
<para>
This index allows only one null in the indexed column by using a
partial index clause to process only null column values, and using
an expression index clause to index <literal>true</literal> instead
of <literal>null</literal>:
<programlisting>
CREATE UNIQUE INDEX tests_target_one_null ON tests ((target IS NULL)) WHERE target IS NULL;
</programlisting>
</para>
</example> </example>
<para> <para>
......
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