From: Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us>
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2025 22:34:17 +0000 (-0500)
Subject: doc:  warn about the use of "ctid" queries beyond the examples
X-Git-Url: http://git.ipfire.org/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?a=commitdiff_plain;h=02dc089bf1560c391fc295dbfaaf0d4a13d178b7;p=thirdparty%2Fpostgresql.git

doc:  warn about the use of "ctid" queries beyond the examples

Also be more assertive that "ctid" should not be used for long-term
storage.

Reported-by: Bernice Southey

Discussion: https://postgr.es/m/CAEDh4nyn5swFYuSfcnGAbpQrKOc47Hh_ZyKVSPYJcu2P=51Luw@mail.gmail.com

Backpatch-through: 17
---

diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/ddl.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/ddl.sgml
index a00e496798f..45aba211339 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/ddl.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/ddl.sgml
@@ -1468,7 +1468,7 @@ CREATE TABLE circles (
       locate the row version very quickly, a row's
       <structfield>ctid</structfield> will change if it is
       updated or moved by <command>VACUUM FULL</command>.  Therefore
-      <structfield>ctid</structfield> is useless as a long-term row
+      <structfield>ctid</structfield> should not be used as a row
       identifier.  A primary key should be used to identify logical rows.
      </para>
     </listitem>
diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/ref/delete.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/ref/delete.sgml
index 7717855bc9e..f61ecc7881b 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/ref/delete.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/ref/delete.sgml
@@ -285,6 +285,9 @@ DELETE FROM user_logs AS dl
   USING delete_batch AS del
   WHERE dl.ctid = del.ctid;
 </programlisting>
+   This use of <structfield>ctid</structfield> is only safe because
+   the query is repeatedly run, avoiding the problem of changed
+   <structfield>ctid</structfield>s.
   </para>
  </refsect1>
 
diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/ref/update.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/ref/update.sgml
index 1c433bec2bb..456d03a0104 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/ref/update.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/ref/update.sgml
@@ -470,6 +470,9 @@ UPDATE work_item SET status = 'failed'
   WHERE work_item.ctid = emr.ctid;
 </programlisting>
    This command will need to be repeated until no rows remain to be updated.
+   (This use of <structfield>ctid</structfield> is only safe because
+   the query is repeatedly run, avoiding the problem of changed
+   <structfield>ctid</structfield>s.)
    Use of an <literal>ORDER BY</literal> clause allows the command to
    prioritize which rows will be updated; it can also prevent deadlock
    with other update operations if they use the same ordering.