PostgreSQL, Second Edition

Geometric Data Types

PostgreSQL supports six data types that represent two-dimensional geometric objects. The most basic geometric data type is the POINT —as you might expect, a POINT represents a point within a two-dimensional plane.

A POINT is composed of an x-coordinate and a y-coordinate—each coordinate is a DOUBLE PRECISION number.

The LSEG data type represents a two-dimensional line segment. When you create a LSEG value, you specify two points—the starting POINT and the ending POINT.

A BOX value is used to define a rectangle—the two points that define a box specify opposite corners.

A PATH is a collection of an arbitrary number of POINTs that are connected. A PATH can specify either a closed path or an open path. In a closed path, the ...