Overview
Postgres 18 arrives as a milestone release for developers and operators who push PostgreSQL in modern workloads. In addition to stability improvements, the release introduces performance enhancements for asynchronous queries, a flexible feature set for virtual columns, and new ways to capture prior values during data operations. It also tightens security with OAuth 2 authentication to simplify identity management across cloud environments.
Threefold speed boost for asynchronous queries
One of the standout improvements in Postgres 18 is accelerated asynchronous query processing. The new executor path, better parallelism, and streamlined I/O scheduling reduce latency and increase throughput for workloads that rely on non-blocking queries. While results vary by workload, many users report noticeable gains in interactive dashboards, data pipelines, and microservices where multiple queries run concurrently. For operators, this translates to lower CPU contention, more predictable latency, and improved ability to scale vertical and horizontal resources.
Why async matters
As applications continue to demand real-time data, the ability to run, wait, and compose results asynchronously becomes a performance lever. Postgres 18 focuses on reducing pressure on the backend while preserving transactional guarantees, enabling smoother experiences for end users and more efficient use of compute clusters.
Virtual columns: computed values on demand
Virtual columns are a practical addition for analysts and developers who want derived metrics without incurring storage costs. A virtual column is computed at query time from existing fields, enabling dynamic values like tax-inclusive totals, currency conversions, or time-based aggregations to be available in SELECTs and JOINS without maintaining redundant data.
Use cases
- Derived business metrics integrated into reports and dashboards.
- Dynamic transformations applied during queries without altering underlying data.
- Simplified data models where derived values are needed in several joins or aggregations.
Access to old values during INSERT: better auditing and upserts
A new capability in Postgres 18 improves how you work with existing data during INSERT-like operations. Developers can reference or preserve prior values in certain upsert or auditing workflows, enabling richer history tracking and more sophisticated conditional logic in data pipelines. This feature helps teams implement safer data corrections, track changes over time, and build more robust data lineage policies.
OAuth 2 authentication: stronger identity integration
Security is a cornerstone of modern deployments, and Postgres 18 strengthens authentication options with built-in OAuth 2 support. By delegating identity to trusted providers, operators can simplify access control, enforce MFA, and align PostgreSQL access with cloud IAM policies. Expect smoother integration with cloud-native platforms and enterprise identity services.
Migration and best practices
Upgrading to Postgres 18 is straightforward for most users, but like any major release, it pays to test in a staging environment first. Review extension compatibility, check for deprecations, and run regression tests on critical workloads to validate performance gains. Consider enabling async query improvements gradually in production (e.g., via configuration flags) and leverage virtual columns in new and evolving analytic models to maximize the value of the upgrade.
Getting started
Start by reading the official notes to understand the exact feature flags and compatibility requirements. Experiment in a test environment, monitor latency and resource usage, and adjust configuration parameters for your workload. With Postgres 18, you gain faster asynchronous queries, flexible virtual columns, and stronger identity options—benefits that can compound across data-intensive applications.
