Also included are syntaxes for several more features introduced in the ANSI SQL 2003 specification, among them statistical aggregates, multirow value statements and multicolumn aggregates.

New advanced database features include generalized inverted indexes that support a more scalable and programmable way of indexing semistructured and full text data, and compatibility with Solaris DTrace and other advanced tracing tools via the Generic Monitoring Framework.

The database has wide adoption among large enterprise users, including global Internet domain name registrar Afilias Ltd., electronics maker Fujitsu Ltd., the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration and mobile communications vendor Research In Motion Ltd.

PostgreSQL, an open-source project that began 21 years ago at the University of California, Berkeley, is distributed under a BSD license, which allows use and distribution without fees for both commercial and noncommercial applications.