How It works
The PostgreSQL Wire Protocol defines how a database server and a client communicate, exchanging SQL commands, authentication requests, and query results.
CrateDB implements this protocol natively, meaning any PostgreSQL client can connect to CrateDB just as it would to a PostgreSQL database.
You can use:
- PostgreSQL clients: psql, pgAdmin, DBeaver, DataGrip, etc.
- BI and visualization tools: Grafana, Superset, Tableau, Metabase.
- Programming libraries: PostgreSQL drivers for Python (psycopg2), Java (JDBC), Node.js (pg), Go, and more.
Key benefits
- Seamless integration: CrateDB drops into your PostgreSQL ecosystem effortlessly. Reuse existing connectors, libraries, and tools without modifying your applications or SQL queries.
- Familiar SQL experience: Because CrateDB supports native SQL (including joins, aggregations, CTEs, and subqueries), you can use familiar syntax and workflows with no learning curve.
- Real-time analytics with PostgreSQL ecosystem: Combine the familiarity of PostgreSQL tools with CrateDB’s distributed SQL engine for high-performance analytics on large-scale, real-time data.
- Broad compatibility: Connect from any platform or programming language using standard PostgreSQL connection strings, authentication, and SSL encryption.
Example connection
Example (using psql):
psql -h <cratedb-host> -p 5432 -U <username> -d <database>
Example (using JDBC):
jdbc:postgresql://<cratedb-host>:5432/<database>
No special driver or plugin is required: the PostgreSQL Wire Protocol ensures compatibility out of the box.
psql -h <cratedb-host> -p 5432 -U <username> -d <database>
Example (using JDBC):
jdbc:postgresql://<cratedb-host>:5432/<database>
No special driver or plugin is required: the PostgreSQL Wire Protocol ensures compatibility out of the box.
When to use the PostgreSQL Wire Protocol
- Integrating CrateDB with existing PostgreSQL-based tools (BI dashboards, data pipelines, monitoring systems).
- Developing applications that need a standard SQL interface with minimal integration overhead.
- Migrating workloads from PostgreSQL to a distributed, real-time database without rewriting application logic.
Why it matters
- Zero friction: Plug CrateDB into your PostgreSQL workflows immediately.
- Ecosystem ready: Use thousands of existing PostgreSQL-compatible libraries and connectors.
- Enterprise-grade: Combine familiar SQL access with CrateDB’s distributed scalability and resilience.
- Future-proof: Build on open standards, not proprietary connectors.
