Python and PostgreSQL are essential tools for data analysis and management. PostgreSQL is a powerful relational database system that can store and manage vast amounts of data.
While Python is a versatile programming language that can run on different platforms such as windows, macOS, and Linux. Connection to PostgreSQL from Python can be done using different Python modules such as Psycopg2, SQLAlchemy, pyodbc, and many others.
In this article, we will focus on using Psycopg2 to connect to PostgreSQL. Psycopg2 module is a PostgreSQL adapter for the Python programming language.
It is the most popular and widely used module for connecting to PostgreSQL because of its simplicity and efficiency. Before we dive into using Psycopg2, we need first to install it.
You can install Psycopg2 using the pip command in your terminal.
Installing Psycopg2 using pip command
1. The following command can be used to install Psycopg2:
Copy
$ pip install psycopg2
After successfully installing Psycopg2, you can verify the installation by running the following code in your terminal:
To connect to a PostgreSQL database from Python using Psycopg2, we need to provide the database credentials such as the host, database name, user, and password. The following code can be used to establish a connection to PostgreSQL from Python:
With a successful PostgreSQL database connection, we can now execute SQL queries using Psycopg2. The most straightforward method to execute queries to the database is by creating a cursor object using the `conn.cursor()` method.
We can then execute our SQL queries using the `.execute()` method and get the query results using `.fetchall()` method. The following is an example of executing a SQL query using Psycopg2:
“, user=”“, password=”“, host=”“)
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.execute(“SELECT * FROM
“)
results = cur.fetchall()
for row in results:
print(row)
# close the communication with the PostgreSQL
cur.close()
conn.close()” aria-label=”Copy” data-copied-text=”Copied!” data-has-text-button=”textSimple” data-inside-header-type=”none” aria-live=”polite”>Copy
import psycopg2
conn = psycopg2.connect(dbname="", user="", password="", host="")
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.execute("SELECT * FROM
")
results = cur.fetchall()
for row in results:
print(row)
# close the communication with the PostgreSQL
cur.close()
conn.close()
Creating a PostgreSQL table from Python
Creating a PostgreSQL table from Python can be done using the `CREATE TABLE` SQL command. However, before creating a table, we need to do mapping between Python and PostgreSQL data types to ensure compatibility.
PostgreSQL supports several data types such as text, numeric, integer, boolean, timestamp, and many others.
1. Mapping between Python and PostgreSQL types
Python Types
PostgreSQL Types
int
integer
str
text
float
real
bool
boolean
datetime
timestamp
2. Creating a table in PostgreSQL from Python
After doing the mapping, we can create a table using the following code:
“, user=”“, password=”“, host=”“)
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.execute(“””
CREATE TABLE
(
id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
name TEXT NOT NULL,
age INTEGER NOT NULL,
address TEXT NOT NULL
);
“””)
# close the communication with the PostgreSQL
cur.close()
conn.close()” aria-label=”Copy” data-copied-text=”Copied!” data-has-text-button=”textSimple” data-inside-header-type=”none” aria-live=”polite”>Copy
(
id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
name TEXT NOT NULL,
age INTEGER NOT NULL,
address TEXT NOT NULL
);
""")
# close the communication with the PostgreSQL
cur.close()
conn.close()
Conclusion
Python and PostgreSQL are two essential tools that have the capability to manage and analyze vast amounts of data. Connection to PostgreSQL from Python can be done using different Python modules such as Psycopg2.
Mapping between Python and PostgreSQL data types is crucial in creating a table in PostgreSQL from Python. Using the code snippets provided in this article, you can start working with PostgreSQL databases easily.
Performing CRUD Operations in PostgreSQL from Python
PostgreSQL is an open-source relational database management system used for managing data efficiently. It is commonly used in enterprise applications where data needs to be handled and organized efficiently.
In conjunction with Python, PostgreSQL can be used for developing several applications efficiently. To interact with PostgreSQL from Python, we need a Python database API that can communicate with PostgreSQL.
This article will cover a few of the database operations, including insert, update, delete, and select.
Inserting Data into PostgreSQL Table from Python
To insert data into a PostgreSQL table from Python, we first need to create a connection to the database. After that, we need to create a cursor object using the connection object.
One important detail is to ensure that the data types in Python and PostgreSQL match. To insert data in a PostgreSQL table, we will use the SQL INSERT statement.
After the statement has executed, we need to commit the changes to the database. The following code demonstrates the insertion of a record:
To select data from a PostgreSQL table from Python, we will follow similar steps as described above. We will create a connection, create a cursor object, execute a SQL SELECT statement, fetch data, and then close the cursor and connection.
The following example demonstrates selecting data from a PostgreSQL table and printing it:
Copy
import psycopg2
try:
conn = psycopg2.connect(
host="localhost",
database="testdb",
user="postgres",
password="12345"
)
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.execute("SELECT * FROM mytable")
rows = cur.fetchall()
for row in rows:
print("Name =", row[0])
print("Age =", row[1])
print("Address =", row[2])
cur.close()
except Exception as e:
print("Exception occurred:", e)
finally:
conn.close()
Updating Data in PostgreSQL Table from Python
To update data in a PostgreSQL table from Python, we will create a connection and a cursor object similar to the above examples. After that, we will use the SQL UPDATE statement to make the necessary modifications to the table.
Similar to inserting data, we will need to commit the changes after we execute the SQL statement. The following example demonstrates updating a record in a PostgreSQL table:
Copy
import psycopg2
try:
conn = psycopg2.connect(
host="localhost",
database="testdb",
user="postgres",
password="12345"
)
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.execute("UPDATE mytable SET age = %s where name = %s", (30, 'John Doe'))
conn.commit()
print("Record updated successfully")
cur.close()
except Exception as e:
print("Exception occurred:", e)
finally:
conn.close()
Deleting Data from PostgreSQL Table from Python
Deleting data from a PostgreSQL table from Python is also straightforward. The first step is to create a connection to the PostgreSQL database.
After that, we will create a cursor object and use the SQL DELETE statement to delete the desired record from the table. The following code demonstrates the deletion of a record:
Copy
import psycopg2
try:
conn = psycopg2.connect(
host="localhost",
database="testdb",
user="postgres",
password="12345"
)
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.execute("DELETE FROM mytable where name = %s", ('John Doe',))
conn.commit()
print("Record deleted successfully")
cur.close()
except Exception as e:
print("Exception occurred:", e)
finally:
conn.close()
Working with PostgreSQL Date and Time in Python
PostgreSQL provides a rich set of functions when working with date and time objects. However, when retrieving date and time data from PostgreSQL via Python, it is important to ensure accurate conversion.
To convert a Postgres timestamp to a Python datetime object, we can cast the Postgres timestamp to a string and use the strptime method from the datetime.datetime class in Python. When creating SQL queries that uses dates or times, it’s important to format the date and time as YYYY-MM-DD or HH24:MI:SS in the SQL query.
The following is an example of converting a Postgres timestamp to a Python datetime object:
Copy
import psycopg2
from datetime import datetime
try:
conn = psycopg2.connect(
host="localhost",
database="testdb",
user="postgres",
password="12345"
)
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.execute("SELECT timestamp_column FROM mytable")
rows = cur.fetchall()
for row in rows:
postgres_timestamp = row[0]
python_datetime = datetime.strptime(str(postgres_timestamp), '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S.%f')
print(python_datetime)
cur.close()
except Exception as e:
print("Exception occurred:", e)
finally:
conn.close()
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed several important operations when working with PostgreSQL from Python. We have covered how to insert, update, select, and delete data from a PostgreSQL database using Python.
Additionally, we’ve reviewed how to correctly handle date and time objects when working with PostgreSQL from Python. By following the code examples presented, you will be able to perform these operations with ease and become proficient at managing PostgreSQL data using Python.
Calling PostgreSQL Function and Stored Procedure from Python
PostgreSQL supports user-defined functions and stored procedures that can be used to perform complex tasks in the database. A function is a named block of code that performs a specific task and returns a value.
A stored procedure is a named batch of SQL statements that can be reused multiple times. Both functions and stored procedures can be executed in PostgreSQL using Python.
In this article, we will learn how to execute a PostgreSQL function and stored procedure from Python.
Executing PostgreSQL Function and Stored Procedure from Python
To execute a PostgreSQL function or stored procedure from Python, we first need to create a connection to the database. After that, we need to create a cursor object.
To execute a function, we will call the function using the cursor.execute() method, and to execute a stored procedure, we will call the procedure using the cursor.callproc() method. We can then fetch the results using the cursor.fetchall() method.
The following example demonstrates how to execute a function in PostgreSQL using Python:
Copy
import psycopg2
try:
conn = psycopg2.connect(
host="localhost",
database="testdb",
user="postgres",
password="12345"
)
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.execute("SELECT my_function();")
result = cur.fetchall()
print(result)
cur.close()
except Exception as e:
print(e)
finally:
conn.close()
Similarly, the following example demonstrates how to execute a stored procedure:
Copy
import psycopg2
try:
conn = psycopg2.connect(
host="localhost",
database="testdb",
user="postgres",
password="12345"
)
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.callproc("my_stored_procedure", [1, "hello"])
result = cur.fetchall()
print(result)
cur.close()
except Exception as e:
print(e)
finally:
conn.close()
Python PostgreSQL Transaction Management
In PostgreSQL, a transaction is a series of statements executed as a single unit. Transactions are used to maintain data consistency and integrity during multiple database updates.
The Python psycopg2 module provides support for managing transactions in PostgreSQL.
Managing PostgreSQL Transactions from Python
To start a transaction, we need to set the isolation level to serializable or repeatable read using the cursor object’s begin() method. After that, we can execute SQL statements within the transaction block and use the commit() method to apply the changes to the database or the rollback() method to undo all the changes made within the transaction.
The following code demonstrates how to manage transactions in PostgreSQL using Python:
Copy
import psycopg2
try:
conn = psycopg2.connect(
host="localhost",
database="testdb",
user="postgres",
password="12345"
)
conn.autocommit = False
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.execute("BEGIN;")
cur.execute("UPDATE mytable SET name = 'John Doe' WHERE id = 1;")
# commit the transaction
conn.commit()
cur.close()
except Exception as e:
print(e)
# rollback the transaction if an error occurred
conn.rollback()
finally:
conn.close()
Using commit() and rollback() Method
The commit() method is used to commit all changes made within the transaction to the database. If any error occurs within the transaction, we can use the rollback() method to undo all the changes.
It is essential to call the rollback() method if an error occurred to ensure the database’s data consistency. The following code demonstrates using the commit() and rollback() methods:
Copy
import psycopg2
try:
conn = psycopg2.connect(
host="localhost",
database="testdb",
user="postgres",
password="12345"
)
conn.autocommit = False
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.execute("BEGIN;")
cur.execute("UPDATE mytable SET name = 'John Doe' WHERE id = 1;")
# simulate an error
cur.execute("SELECT * FROM mytable WHERE non_existent_column = 'test';")
# commit the transaction
conn.commit()
cur.close()
except Exception as e:
print(e)
# rollback the transaction if an error occurred
conn.rollback()
finally:
conn.close()
Changing PostgreSQL Transaction Isolation Level from Python
PostgreSQL provides different transaction isolation levels such as read committed, repeatable read, serializable, and read uncommitted. The transaction isolation level can be set within the transaction block using the SET TRANSACTION ISOLATION LEVEL statement.
Alternatively, we can set the transaction behavior outside of the transaction using the connection object’s set_session() method. The following example demonstrates how to change the transaction isolation level in PostgreSQL from Python:
Copy
import psycopg2
try:
conn = psycopg2.connect(
host="localhost",
database="testdb",
user="postgres",
password="12345"
)
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.execute("SET SESSION CHARACTERISTICS AS TRANSACTION ISOLATION LEVEL SERIALIZABLE;")
cur.execute("BEGIN;")
cur.execute("UPDATE mytable SET name = 'John Doe' WHERE id = 1;")
conn.commit()
cur.close()
except Exception as e:
print(e)
finally:
conn.close()
Conclusion
In this article, we have covered how to execute a PostgreSQL function and stored procedure using Python. Additionally, we have demonstrated how to manage transactions in PostgreSQL from Python using the commit() and rollback() methods.
We have also discussed how to change the transaction isolation level in PostgreSQL from Python. With these examples, you can confidently work with transactions, procedures, and functions in PostgreSQL using Python.
Python PostgreSQL Connection Pooling
Connection pooling is an essential aspect of database programming. A database connection pool is a pool of database connections that are created in advance and held in reserve for later use.
Connection pooling can improve application performance by reducing the overhead of creating and destroying database connections for each request. Psycopg2, the Python PostgreSQL adapter, provides support for database connection pooling.
Implementing PostgreSQL Database Connection Pool using Psycopg2
The psycopg2 module provides the `psycopg2.pool` module that can be used to create a connection pool.
The following code demonstrates how to implement a connection pool using psycopg2:
Copy
import psycopg2
from psycopg2.pool import ThreadedConnectionPool
pool = ThreadedConnectionPool(
1,
5,
host="localhost",
database="testdb",
user="postgres",
password="12345"
)
# Get a connection from the pool
conn = pool.getconn()
cur = conn.cursor()
# Execute SQL queries
cur.execute("SELECT * FROM mytable")
# Close the cursor and release the connection back to the pool
cur.close()
pool.putconn(conn)
# Close the pool
pool.closeall()
In this code, the first argument of the `ThreadedConnectionPool` constructor is the minimum number of connections to keep in the pool. The second argument is the maximum number of connections to keep in the pool. The remaining arguments are the same as the `psycopg2.connect` method.
To get a connection from the pool, we call the `pool.getconn()` method. To release a connection back to the pool, we call the `pool.putconn()` method. It is important to always release the connection back to the pool when you are finished using it. The pool should be closed when the application is finished using it.
Benefits of Using Connection Pooling
Improved performance: Connection pooling reduces the overhead of creating and destroying connections, which can improve application performance.
Reduced resource consumption: Connection pooling reduces the number of connections that are opened and closed, which can reduce resource consumption.
Increased scalability: Connection pooling can help to improve the scalability of applications by allowing them to handle more requests concurrently.
Conclusion
Connection pooling is a powerful technique that can improve the performance and scalability of applications that use PostgreSQL. By using the `psycopg2.pool` module, you can easily implement connection pooling in your Python applications.