Why would you refresh a materialized view in a PostgreSQL database before you use it?
John Castro
Published Mar 01, 2026
Why would you refresh a materialized view in a PostgreSQL database before you use it?
When you refresh data for a materialized view, PostgreSQL locks the entire table therefore you cannot query data against it. With CONCURRENTLY option, PostgreSQL creates a temporary updated version of the materialized view, compares two versions, and performs INSERT and UPDATE only the differences.
How materialized view refresh works Postgres?
REFRESH MATERIALIZED VIEW completely replaces the contents of a materialized view. To execute this command you must be the owner of the materialized view. The old contents are discarded.
How do you refresh materialized view?
The simplest form to refresh a materialized view is a Complete Refresh. It loads the contents of a materialized view from scratch. This means, if the SQL query of the materialized view has an execution time of two hours, the Complete Refresh takes at least two hours as well – or ofter even longer.
What is Postgres materialized view?
A “materialized view” is a database object which stores the result of a precalculated database query and makes it easy to refresh this result as needed. Materialized views are an integral feature of pretty much all advanced database systems.
Can we update view in PostgreSQL?
PostgreSQL views are not updateable by default. You must tell PostgreSQL how you want the view to be updated. Do this using “an unconditional ON UPDATE DO INSTEAD rule” (as the error message you pasted said) or preferably on PostgreSQL 9.1 and above using a view trigger.
What is the difference between view and materialized view?
Views are generally used when data is to be accessed infrequently and data in table get updated on frequent basis. On other hand Materialized Views are used when data is to be accessed frequently and data in table not get updated on frequent basis.
How do I manually refresh a materialized view?
- Set the initialization parameters and bounce the database.
- Create the materialized view table.
- Create the optimizer statistics and refresh the materialized view.
- Test the materialized view.
- Create the MVIEW log(s) MATERIALIZED VIEW.
- Execute a manual complete refresh.
What happens when a materialized view is refreshed?
Why use materialized view instead of a table?
Materialized views are basically used to increase query performance since it contains results of a query. They should be used for reporting instead of a table for a faster execution.
What is true for view in PostgreSQL?
PostgreSQL CREATE VIEW example For example, in our sample database, we have four tables: customer – stores all customer data. address – stores address of customers. city – stores city data.
Does view refresh automatically?
Yes, they are updated, every time you use them.
How do you refresh a materialized view in SQL Server?
Oracle Database can use this materialized view log to perform fast refreshes for all fast-refresh-able materialized views based on the master table. To fast refresh a materialized join view, you must create a materialized view log for each of the tables referenced by the materialized views.