Re: Question about (probably wrong) index scan cost for conditional indexes

Prorably simpliest test case:

set random_page_cost to 4;
set seq_page_cost to 1;
drop table  if exists test;
CREATE TABLE test (id integer primary key, value1 float, value2 float, value3 float, value4 float);
INSERT into test select id,random() as value1,random() as value2, random() as value3,random() as value4 from generate_series(1,1000000) as g(id);
CREATE INDEX test_special_key on test(value1) where value2*2<0.01 and value3*2<0.01 and value4*2<0.01;
ANALYZE test;

postgres=# EXPLAIN ANALYZE select * from test order by id limit 100;
                                                            QUERY PLAN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Limit  (cost=0.00..3.43 rows=100 width=36) (actual time=0.042..0.170 rows=100 loops=1)
   ->  Index Scan using test_pkey on test  (cost=0.00..34317.36 rows=1000000 width=36) (actual time=0.040..0.108 rows=100 loops=1)
 Total runtime: 0.243 ms
(3 rows)

vs

postgres=# EXPLAIN ANALYZE select * from test where value2*2<0.01 and value3*2<0.01 and value4*2<0.01 order by value1 limit 100;
                                                              QUERY PLAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Limit  (cost=0.00..92.52 rows=100 width=36) (actual time=0.072..0.072 rows=0 loops=1)
   ->  Index Scan using test_special_key on test  (cost=0.00..34264.97 rows=37037 width=36) (actual time=0.070..0.070 rows=0 loops=1)
 Total runtime: 0.113 ms
(3 rows)

cost difference:
(cost=0.00..3.43 rows=100 width=36)
vs
(cost=0.00..92.52 rows=100 width=36)

An actual speed (and theoretical performance) almost same.

More selective conditions added to conditional index - worse situation with wrong costing.

Kind Regards,
Maksym

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Maxim Boguk
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