Configuration parameter

io_worker_launch_interval — PostgreSQL configuration parameter

Category Resource Consumption Default 100ms Change scope Sighup

Sets the minimum time before another I/O worker can be launched.

At a glance

Property Value
Parameter io_worker_launch_interval
Category Resource Consumption
Default 100ms
Value type integer
Change scope Reload (postgresql.conf, SIGHUP)
Available in PostgreSQL 19 (added in 19)

What it does

Sets the minimum time before another I/O worker can be launched. This avoids creating too many for an unsustained burst of activity. The default is 100ms. This parameter can only be set in the postgresql.conf file or on the server command line.

Only has an effect if io_method is set to worker.

(Description quoted from the official PostgreSQL documentation.)

How to apply a change

Set it in postgresql.conf (or with ALTER SYSTEM) and reload with SELECT pg_reload_conf(); or pg_ctl reload — no restart needed.

Inspect the current value and source with SHOW io_worker_launch_interval; or SELECT name, setting, unit, context, source FROM pg_settings WHERE name = 'io_worker_launch_interval';.

Tuning guidance

This parameter is rarely a performance lever. Leave it at the default unless you have a specific, documented reason to change it, change it on one session or one role/database first, and confirm the effect with pg_settings and your own measurements before rolling it out cluster-wide.

Reference

PostgreSQL documentation — io_worker_launch_interval.

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Related & next steps

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