Supabase Postgres Best Practices

---
name: supabase-postgres-best-practices
description: Use when writing Postgres SQL, schema changes, migrations, indexes, RLS policies,
  or diagnosing Postgres query plans, locking, or connection problems, including Postgres outside
  Supabase. Not for other databases. General security guidance belongs to security-best-practices;
  general code reviews to deep-review or review-report.
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: supabase
  version: 1.1.1
  organization: Supabase
  date: January 2026
  abstract: Comprehensive Postgres performance optimization guide for developers using Supabase
    and Postgres. Contains performance rules across 8 categories, prioritized by impact from
    critical (query performance, connection management) to incremental (advanced features).
    Each rule includes detailed explanations, incorrect vs. correct SQL examples, query plan
    analysis, and specific performance metrics to guide automated optimization and code generation.
  evaluation-status: unmeasured
---

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# Supabase Postgres Best Practices

Comprehensive performance optimization guide for Postgres, maintained by Supabase. Contains rules across 8 categories, prioritized by impact to guide automated query optimization and schema design.

## When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:
- Writing SQL queries or designing schemas
- Implementing indexes or query optimization
- Reviewing database performance issues
- Configuring connection pooling or scaling
- Optimizing for Postgres-specific features
- Working with Row-Level Security (RLS)

## Rule Categories by Priority

| Priority | Category | Impact | Prefix |
|----------|----------|--------|--------|
| 1 | Query Performance | CRITICAL | `query-` |
| 2 | Connection Management | CRITICAL | `conn-` |
| 3 | Security & RLS | CRITICAL | `security-` |
| 4 | Schema Design | HIGH | `schema-` |
| 5 | Concurrency & Locking | MEDIUM-HIGH | `lock-` |
| 6 | Data Access Patterns | MEDIUM | `data-` |
| 7 | Monitoring & Diagnostics | LOW-MEDIUM | `monitor-` |
| 8 | Advanced Features | LOW | `advanced-` |

## How to Use

Read individual rule files for detailed explanations and SQL examples:

```
references/query-missing-indexes.md
references/query-partial-indexes.md
references/_sections.md
```

Each rule file contains:
- Brief explanation of why it matters
- Incorrect SQL example with explanation
- Correct SQL example with explanation
- Optional EXPLAIN output or metrics
- Additional context and references
- Supabase-specific notes (when applicable)

## References

- https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/
- https://supabase.com/docs
- https://wiki.postgresql.org/wiki/Performance_Optimization
- https://supabase.com/docs/guides/database/overview
- https://supabase.com/docs/guides/auth/row-level-security