Dev 5 min read

PostgreSQL 18: the features worth knowing about

The latest release brings native JSON path indexes, asynchronous I/O, and a dramatically improved query planner.

PS
Priya Sharma April 4, 2026
PostgreSQL elephant logo with database visualization

PostgreSQL 18 is the most significant release in years, with features that address long-standing pain points for developers building modern applications.

Native JSON path indexes

You can now create indexes on JSON path expressions directly, without needing to create generated columns. This makes PostgreSQL's JSON support competitive with MongoDB for document-style queries while keeping all the benefits of a relational database.

Async I/O

The new asynchronous I/O subsystem reduces query latency by up to 40% for I/O-bound workloads. This is especially impactful for analytical queries that scan large tables.

PostgreSQLDatabaseSQLRelease
PS
Priya Sharma

Dev Tools Editor

Developer tools editor and open source advocate. Writes about frameworks, languages, and the culture of building software. Contributor to several popular OSS projects.

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