PostgreSQL

8.8. Geometric Types
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8.8. Geometric Types

8.8.1. Points

Geometric data types represent two-dimensional spatial objects. Table 8.20 shows the geometric types available in PostgreSQL.

Table 8.20. Geometric Types

Name Storage Size Description Representation

Name	Storage Size	Description	Representation
`point`	16 bytes	Point on a plane	(x,y)
`line`	32 bytes	Infinite line	\{A,B,C}
`lseg`	32 bytes	Finite line segment	x1,y1),(x2,y2
`box`	32 bytes	Rectangular box	x1,y1),(x2,y2
`path`	16+16n bytes	Closed path (similar to polygon)	((x1,y1),…)
`path`	16+16n bytes	Open path	[(x1,y1),…]
`polygon`	40+16n bytes	Polygon (similar to closed path)	((x1,y1),…)
`circle`	24 bytes	Circle	<(x,y),r> (center point and radius)

point

16 bytes

Point on a plane

(x,y)

line

32 bytes

Infinite line

\{A,B,C}

lseg

32 bytes

Finite line segment

x1,y1),(x2,y2

box

32 bytes

Rectangular box

x1,y1),(x2,y2

path

16+16n bytes

Closed path (similar to polygon)

((x1,y1),…)

path

16+16n bytes

Open path

[(x1,y1),…]

polygon

40+16n bytes

Polygon (similar to closed path)

((x1,y1),…)

circle

24 bytes

Circle

<(x,y),r> (center point and radius)

A rich set of functions and operators is available to perform various geometric operations such as scaling, translation, rotation, and determining intersections. They are explained in Section 9.11.

8.8.1. Points

Points are the fundamental two-dimensional building block for geometric types. Values of type point are specified using either of the following syntaxes:

( x , y )
  x , y

where `x and y` are the respective coordinates, as floating-point numbers.

Points are output using the first syntax.

8.8.2. Lines

Lines are represented by the linear equation `Ax + By + C = 0, where A and B are not both zero. Values of type `line are input and output in the following form:

{ A, B, C }

Alternatively, any of the following forms can be used for input:

[ ( x1 , y1 ) , ( x2 , y2 ) ]
( ( x1 , y1 ) , ( x2 , y2 ) )
  ( x1 , y1 ) , ( x2 , y2 )
    x1 , y1   ,   x2 , y2

where (`x1,y1)` and (`x2,y2)` are two different points on the line.

8.8.3. Line Segments

Line segments are represented by pairs of points that are the endpoints of the segment. Values of type lseg are specified using any of the following syntaxes:

[ ( x1 , y1 ) , ( x2 , y2 ) ]
( ( x1 , y1 ) , ( x2 , y2 ) )
  ( x1 , y1 ) , ( x2 , y2 )
    x1 , y1   ,   x2 , y2

where (`x1,y1)` and (`x2,y2)` are the end points of the line segment.

Line segments are output using the first syntax.

8.8.4. Boxes

Boxes are represented by pairs of points that are opposite corners of the box. Values of type box are specified using any of the following syntaxes:

( ( x1 , y1 ) , ( x2 , y2 ) )
  ( x1 , y1 ) , ( x2 , y2 )
    x1 , y1   ,   x2 , y2

where (`x1,y1)` and (`x2,y2)` are any two opposite corners of the box.

Boxes are output using the second syntax.

Any two opposite corners can be supplied on input, but the values will be reordered as needed to store the upper right and lower left corners, in that order.

8.8.5. Paths

Paths are represented by lists of connected points. Paths can be open, where the first and last points in the list are considered not connected, or closed, where the first and last points are considered connected.

Values of type path are specified using any of the following syntaxes:

[ ( x1 , y1 ) , ... , ( xn , yn ) ]
( ( x1 , y1 ) , ... , ( xn , yn ) )
  ( x1 , y1 ) , ... , ( xn , yn )
  ( x1 , y1   , ... ,   xn , yn )
    x1 , y1   , ... ,   xn , yn

where the points are the end points of the line segments comprising the path. Square brackets ([]) indicate an open path, while parentheses (()) indicate a closed path. When the outermost parentheses are omitted, as in the third through fifth syntaxes, a closed path is assumed.

Paths are output using the first or second syntax, as appropriate.

8.8.6. Polygons

Polygons are represented by lists of points (the vertexes of the polygon). Polygons are very similar to closed paths; the essential difference is that a polygon is considered to include the area within it, while a path is not.

Values of type polygon are specified using any of the following syntaxes:

( ( x1 , y1 ) , ... , ( xn , yn ) )
  ( x1 , y1 ) , ... , ( xn , yn )
  ( x1 , y1   , ... ,   xn , yn )
    x1 , y1   , ... ,   xn , yn

where the points are the end points of the line segments comprising the boundary of the polygon.

Polygons are output using the first syntax.

8.8.7. Circles

Circles are represented by a center point and radius. Values of type circle are specified using any of the following syntaxes:

< ( x , y ) , r >
( ( x , y ) , r )
  ( x , y ) , r
    x , y   , r

where (`x,y)` is the center point and `r` is the radius of the circle.

Circles are output using the first syntax.

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