Notes or comments on columns in a table

PostgreSQL 9.2

When creating a table or altering a column of a table, is there a way to add notes on a column?

If not:

I have a new enhancement request.  When creating a table or altering a column, it would be nice if a user could add “comments” or “notes” to a column.  This note would only appear when doing “\d table_name”. 

Why?  I was adding a new column to a table called “type”.  Normally I only add types as characters even though integers are much better for indexing.  The problem with integers is I never remember what value means what.  Does a 1 mean directory or file.  So I end up creating “type” as a character so I can do a quick SELECT DISTINCT to figure out the options.  I would use integers if I could do \d table_name to see in the notes section what values meant.  I would think other people run into this issue all the time.

Thanks,

Lance Campbell

Software Architect

Web Services at Public Affairs

217-333-0382