'\" t
.\"     Title: CREATE OPERATOR FAMILY
.\"    Author: The PostgreSQL Global Development Group
.\" Generator: DocBook XSL Stylesheets v1.79.1 <http://docbook.sf.net/>
.\"      Date: 2021
.\"    Manual: PostgreSQL 9.6.24 Documentation
.\"    Source: PostgreSQL 9.6.24
.\"  Language: English
.\"
.TH "CREATE OPERATOR FAMILY" "7" "2021" "PostgreSQL 9.6.24" "PostgreSQL 9.6.24 Documentation"
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.SH "NAME"
CREATE_OPERATOR_FAMILY \- define a new operator family
.SH "SYNOPSIS"
.sp
.nf
CREATE OPERATOR FAMILY \fIname\fR USING \fIindex_method\fR
.fi
.SH "DESCRIPTION"
.PP
\fBCREATE OPERATOR FAMILY\fR
creates a new operator family\&. An operator family defines a collection of related operator classes, and perhaps some additional operators and support functions that are compatible with these operator classes but not essential for the functioning of any individual index\&. (Operators and functions that are essential to indexes should be grouped within the relevant operator class, rather than being
\(lqloose\(rq
in the operator family\&. Typically, single\-data\-type operators are bound to operator classes, while cross\-data\-type operators can be loose in an operator family containing operator classes for both data types\&.)
.PP
The new operator family is initially empty\&. It should be populated by issuing subsequent
\fBCREATE OPERATOR CLASS\fR
commands to add contained operator classes, and optionally
\fBALTER OPERATOR FAMILY\fR
commands to add
\(lqloose\(rq
operators and their corresponding support functions\&.
.PP
If a schema name is given then the operator family is created in the specified schema\&. Otherwise it is created in the current schema\&. Two operator families in the same schema can have the same name only if they are for different index methods\&.
.PP
The user who defines an operator family becomes its owner\&. Presently, the creating user must be a superuser\&. (This restriction is made because an erroneous operator family definition could confuse or even crash the server\&.)
.PP
Refer to
Section 36.14, \(lqInterfacing Extensions To Indexes\(rq, in the documentation
for further information\&.
.SH "PARAMETERS"
.PP
\fIname\fR
.RS 4
The name of the operator family to be created\&. The name can be schema\-qualified\&.
.RE
.PP
\fIindex_method\fR
.RS 4
The name of the index method this operator family is for\&.
.RE
.SH "COMPATIBILITY"
.PP
\fBCREATE OPERATOR FAMILY\fR
is a
PostgreSQL
extension\&. There is no
\fBCREATE OPERATOR FAMILY\fR
statement in the SQL standard\&.
.SH "SEE ALSO"
ALTER OPERATOR FAMILY (\fBALTER_OPERATOR_FAMILY\fR(7)), DROP OPERATOR FAMILY (\fBDROP_OPERATOR_FAMILY\fR(7)), CREATE OPERATOR CLASS (\fBCREATE_OPERATOR_CLASS\fR(7)), ALTER OPERATOR CLASS (\fBALTER_OPERATOR_CLASS\fR(7)), DROP OPERATOR CLASS (\fBDROP_OPERATOR_CLASS\fR(7))