Is There a Boolean Data Type in PostgreSQL?

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Angela Bailey

Is There a Boolean Data Type in PostgreSQL?

When working with databases, it is common to encounter situations where we need to store and manipulate boolean values. A boolean data type allows us to represent and work with true or false values. In PostgreSQL, a popular open-source relational database management system, we are fortunate to have built-in support for the boolean data type.

Boolean Data Type in PostgreSQL

The boolean data type in PostgreSQL is represented by the keyword boolean. It can store two distinct values: true or false. These values are not case-sensitive, so you can also use TRUE or FALSE.

To define a column with a boolean data type in a table, you can use the following syntax:


CREATE TABLE my_table (
    my_column BOOLEAN
);

This will create a table named my_table with a column named my_column, which can store boolean values.

Inserting Boolean Values into a Table

To insert boolean values into a table, you can use the standard INSERT statement. Let’s consider an example where we want to insert some employee records into an “employees” table, including their employment status:


INSERT INTO employees (name, employment_status)
VALUES ('John Doe', TRUE),
       ('Jane Smith', FALSE),
       ('Michael Johnson', TRUE);

This will insert three records into the “employees” table. John Doe and Michael Johnson have an employment status of true (employed), while Jane Smith has an employment status of false (unemployed).

Querying Boolean Values

Retrieving boolean values from a PostgreSQL table is straightforward. You can use the standard SELECT statement to query the data. Here’s an example:


SELECT name
FROM employees
WHERE employment_status = TRUE;

This query will return the names of all employees who have an employment status of true. In our example, it will retrieve the names “John Doe” and “Michael Johnson”.

Conclusion

PostgreSQL provides excellent support for boolean values through its built-in boolean data type. With this data type, you can store and manipulate true or false values in your database tables. By leveraging the power of boolean data types, you can efficiently handle scenarios where you need to represent binary states or conditions.

In this article, we explored how to define a column with a boolean data type, insert boolean values into a table, and query boolean values using PostgreSQL. Understanding and utilizing the boolean data type in PostgreSQL will empower you to design robust databases that accurately represent real-world situations.

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