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Functions for Manipulating Data in PostgreSQL

IntermediateSkill Level
4.7+
5,733 reviews
Updated 01/2026
Learn the most important PostgreSQL functions for manipulating, processing, and transforming data.
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SQLData Manipulation4 hr13 videos50 Exercises4,200 XP96,981Statement of Accomplishment

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Course Description

This course will provide you an understanding of how to use built-in PostgreSQL functions in your SQL queries to manipulate different types of data including strings, character, numeric and date/time. We'll travel back to a time where Blockbuster video stores were on every corner and if you wanted to watch a movie, you actually had to leave your house to rent a DVD! You'll also get an introduction into the robust full-text search capabilities which provides a powerful tool for indexing and matching keywords in a PostgreSQL document. And finally, you'll learn how to extend these features by using PostgreSQL extensions.The videos contain live transcripts you can reveal by clicking "Show transcript" at the bottom left of the videos. The course glossary can be found on the right in the resources section. To obtain CPE credits you need to complete the course and reach a score of 70% on the qualified assessment. You can navigate to the assessment by clicking on the CPE credits callout on the right.

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What you'll learn

  • Assess when full-text search functions and extensions (to_tsvector, fuzzystrmatch, pg_trgm) provide advantages over pattern matching with LIKE
  • Differentiate the results produced by arithmetic and interval operations on DATE versus TIMESTAMP columns
  • Evaluate situations that warrant creating or enabling user-defined types, functions, and extensions to extend PostgreSQL capabilities.
  • Identify the properties and suitable applications of PostgreSQL data types such as TEXT, NUMERIC, DATE/TIME, and ARRAY
  • use built-in string functions—including CONCAT, UPPER/LOWER, SUBSTRING, POSITION, TRIM, LPAD, and RPAD—that reformat, parse, or pad text

Prerequisites

Data Manipulation in SQL
1

Overview of Common Data Types

Learn about the properties and characteristics of common data types including strings, numerics and arrays and how to retrieve information about your database.
Start Chapter
2

Working with DATE/TIME Functions and Operators

3

Parsing and Manipulating Text

4

Full-text Search and PostgresSQL Extensions

Functions for Manipulating Data in PostgreSQL
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Vaheeson

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FAQs

What types of data manipulation does this course cover?

You will learn to manipulate string, numeric, and date/time data using PostgreSQL built-in functions, and work with array data types and full text search capabilities.

Which PostgreSQL functions will I use most in this course?

The course covers date/time functions like EXTRACT and DATE_TRUNC, string functions like SUBSTRING, TRIM, and REVERSE, and full text search functions to_tsvector and to_tsquery, among others.

What dataset is used for the exercises?

All exercises use the Sakila DVD rental database, a normalized schema with films, actors, rentals, and payment records that provides realistic string, numeric, and date/time data to practice on.

What is full text search and why does this course teach it?

Full text search lets you find keywords throughout a document more flexibly than a simple LIKE query. Chapter 4 introduces to_tsvector and to_tsquery, then extends that with the fuzzystrmatch and pg_trgm extensions for similarity matching.

What can I do with PostgreSQL extensions after completing this course?

You will be able to create user-defined data types and functions, and use pg_trgm trigram indexes and fuzzystrmatch to build more powerful and forgiving search queries in your databases.

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