Are PostgreSQL column names case-sensitive?

Are PostgreSQL column names case-sensitive? 🗂️🔎

When working with PostgreSQL, you may encounter a question: Are column names case-sensitive? The short answer is - yes, they are!

🤔 Why does this matter? Well, it can often lead to confusion and frustration, especially when you're dealing with a database handed down by another team, and the column names are not in the exact case you expect.

Let's take a look at an example:

SELECT * FROM persons WHERE first_Name = 'xyz';

In this case, you may be expecting to retrieve records that match the name 'xyz' in the column "first_Name". However, you might encounter an error like this:

ERROR: column "first_Name" does not exist

💡 So, how can you address this issue? Here are two easy solutions to consider:

Solution 1: Double quotes

PostgreSQL treats column names in double quotes (") as case-sensitive. Therefore, you can modify your query to:

SELECT * FROM persons WHERE "first_Name" = 'xyz';

Using double quotes will make PostgreSQL look for the column "first_Name" exactly as it appears (with the same capitalization) in the table schema.

Solution 2: Underscore notation

Another option is to use the underscore notation. In PostgreSQL, column names are case-insensitive when not enclosed in double quotes. By changing your query to:

SELECT * FROM persons WHERE first_name = 'xyz';

You can query the column using all lowercase or uppercase, as the case would not matter. This notation is often preferred for its simplicity and readability.

📣 Take action and avoid future headaches Now that you know how to handle case-sensitive column names in PostgreSQL, start applying these solutions to your queries to prevent any errors or confusion.

Remember, consistency is key! Choose one method and stick with it throughout your codebase to maintain clarity and uniformity.

If you found this blog post helpful, share it with your fellow developers to spread the knowledge! 💡📢

Got any other PostgreSQL questions or database-related topics you want me to cover? Comment below and let's continue the discussion! 👇😄