Vacuum

Noun · Development

Definitions

  1. A PostgreSQL maintenance operation that reclaims storage from dead tuples (rows that were updated or deleted but not yet cleaned up due to MVCC). VACUUM also updates statistics for the query planner. Auto-vacuum runs periodically, but manual VACUUM FULL can reclaim more space.

    In plain English: PostgreSQL's cleanup process that reclaims space from deleted or updated rows that are no longer needed.

    Example: "The table bloated to 50GB after the bulk delete — run VACUUM FULL to reclaim the dead tuple space."

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