<!-- doc/src/sgml/intro.sgml -->

<preface id="preface">
 <title>Preface</title>

 <para>
  This book is the official documentation of
  <productname>PostgreSQL</productname>.  It has been written by the
  <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> developers and other
  volunteers in parallel to the development of the
  <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> software.  It describes all
  the functionality that the current version of
  <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> officially supports.
 </para>

 <para>
  To make the large amount of information about
  <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> manageable, this book has been
  organized in several parts.  Each part is targeted at a different
  class of users, or at users in different stages of their
  <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> experience:

  <itemizedlist>
   <listitem>
    <para>
     <xref linkend="tutorial"/> is an informal introduction for new users.
    </para>
   </listitem>

   <listitem>
    <para>
     <xref linkend="sql"/> documents the <acronym>SQL</acronym> query
     language environment, including data types and functions, as well
     as user-level performance tuning.  Every
     <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> user should read this.
    </para>
   </listitem>

   <listitem>
    <para>
     <xref linkend="admin"/> describes the installation and
     administration of the server.  Everyone who runs a
     <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> server, be it for private
     use or for others, should read this part.
    </para>
   </listitem>

   <listitem>
    <para>
     <xref linkend="client-interfaces"/> describes the programming
     interfaces for <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> client
     programs.
    </para>
   </listitem>


   <listitem>
    <para>
     <xref linkend="server-programming"/> contains information for
     advanced users about the extensibility capabilities of the
     server.  Topics include user-defined data types and
     functions.
    </para>
   </listitem>

   <listitem>
    <para>
     <xref linkend="reference"/> contains reference information about
     SQL commands, client and server programs.  This part supports
     the other parts with structured information sorted by command or
     program.
    </para>
   </listitem>

   <listitem>
    <para>
     <xref linkend="internals"/> contains assorted information that might be of
     use to <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> developers.
    </para>
   </listitem>
  </itemizedlist>
 </para>

 <sect1 id="intro-whatis">
  <title> What Is