This chapter introduces the main features that allow us to implement Server-Side Programming. Many PostgreSQL features rely on the ability to execute units of code, and, as already discussed, PostgreSQL provides rich support to different languages and execution environments.
In this chapter, we will learn how to write executable code that can be executed directly on the server, how to package it into stored procedures, and how to manage them. In particular, this chapter will focus on the following topics:
- Functions, procedures, and routines
- How to write, modify, and manage a stored procedure
- How to implement a transaction-aware stored procedure