Configuration parameter

max_index_keys — PostgreSQL configuration parameter

Category Preset Options Default 32 keys

Reports the maximum number of index keys.

At a glance

Property Value
Parameter max_index_keys
Category Preset Options
Default 32
Value type integer
Change scope Per-session (SET)
Available in PostgreSQL 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 (added in 12)

What it does

Reports the maximum number of index keys. It is determined by the value of INDEX_MAX_KEYS when building the server. The default value is 32 keys.

(Description quoted from the official PostgreSQL documentation.)

How to apply a change

Can be set per session with SET, per role/database with ALTER ROLE/DATABASE ... SET, or globally in postgresql.conf.

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

Tuning guidance

This is a preset, read-only parameter: it reports a value fixed when PostgreSQL was built or the cluster was initialized, and cannot be tuned at runtime. Read it to verify the server’s build or cluster configuration (for example when matching a replica or debugging a compatibility issue); there is no setting to adjust.

Reference

PostgreSQL documentation — max_index_keys.

Keep going

Related & next steps

Concepts on this page

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