51.33. pg_opclass

The catalog pg_opclass defines index access method operator classes. Each operator class defines semantics for index columns of a particular data type and a particular index access method. An operator class essentially specifies that a particular operator family is applicable to a particular indexable column data type. The set of operators from the family that are actually usable with the indexed column are whichever ones accept the column's data type as their left-hand input.

Operator classes are described at length in Section 37.14.

Table 51.33. pg_opclass Columns

Name
Type
References
Description

oid

oid

Row identifier (hidden attribute; must be explicitly selected)

opcmethod

oid

pg_am.oid

Index access method operator class is for

opcname

name

Name of this operator class

opcnamespace

oid

Namespace of this operator class

opcowner

oid

Owner of the operator class

opcfamily

oid

Operator family containing the operator class

opcintype

oid

Data type that the operator class indexes

opcdefault

bool

True if this operator class is the default for opcintype

opckeytype

oid

Type of data stored in index, or zero if same as opcintype

An operator class's opcmethod must match the opfmethod of its containing operator family. Also, there must be no more than one pg_opclass row having opcdefault true for any given combination of opcmethod and opcintype.