---
title: 'PGMQ Extension'
---

pgmq is a lightweight message queue built on Postgres.

## Features

- Lightweight - No background worker or external dependencies, just Postgres functions packaged in an extension
- "exactly once" delivery of messages to a consumer within a visibility timeout
- API parity with AWS SQS and RSMQ
- Messages stay in the queue until explicitly removed
- Messages can be archived, instead of deleted, for long-term retention and replayability

## Enable the extension

```sql
create extension pgmq;
```

## Usage [#get-usage]

### Queue management

#### `create`

Create a new queue.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
pgmq.create(queue_name text)
returns void
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter  | Type | Description           |
| :--------- | :--- | :-------------------- |
| queue_name | text | The name of the queue |

Example:

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select from pgmq.create('my_queue');
 create
--------
```

#### `create_unlogged`

Creates an unlogged table. This is useful when write throughput is more important than durability.
See Postgres documentation for [unlogged tables](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/sql-createtable.html#SQL-CREATETABLE-UNLOGGED) for more information.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
pgmq.create_unlogged(queue_name text)
returns void
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter  | Type | Description           |
| :--------- | :--- | :-------------------- |
| queue_name | text | The name of the queue |

Example:

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select pgmq.create_unlogged('my_unlogged');
 create_unlogged
-----------------
```

---

#### `detach_archive`

Drop the queue's archive table as a member of the PGMQ extension. Useful for preventing the queue's archive table from being dropped when `drop extension pgmq` is executed.
This does not prevent the further archives() from appending to the archive table.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
pgmq.detach_archive(queue_name text)
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter  | Type | Description           |
| :--------- | :--- | :-------------------- |
| queue_name | text | The name of the queue |

Example:

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select * from pgmq.detach_archive('my_queue');
 detach_archive
----------------
```

---

#### `drop_queue`

Deletes a queue and its archive table.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
pgmq.drop_queue(queue_name text)
returns boolean
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter  | Type | Description           |
| :--------- | :--- | :-------------------- |
| queue_name | text | The name of the queue |

Example:

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select * from pgmq.drop_queue('my_unlogged');
 drop_queue
------------
 t
```

### Sending messages

#### `send`

Send a single message to a queue.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
pgmq.send(
    queue_name text,
    msg jsonb,
    delay integer default 0
)
returns setof bigint
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter    | Type      | Description                                                        |
| :----------- | :-------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `queue_name` | `text`    | The name of the queue                                              |
| `msg`        | `jsonb`   | The message to send to the queue                                   |
| `delay`      | `integer` | Time in seconds before the message becomes visible. Defaults to 0. |

Example:

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select * from pgmq.send('my_queue', '{"hello": "world"}');
 send
------
    4
```

---

#### `send_batch`

Send 1 or more messages to a queue.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
pgmq.send_batch(
    queue_name text,
    msgs jsonb[],
    delay integer default 0
)
returns setof bigint
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter    | Type      | Description                                                         |
| :----------- | :-------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `queue_name` | `text`    | The name of the queue                                               |
| `msgs`       | `jsonb[]` | Array of messages to send to the queue                              |
| `delay`      | `integer` | Time in seconds before the messages becomes visible. Defaults to 0. |

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select * from pgmq.send_batch(
    'my_queue',
    array[
      '{"hello": "world_0"}'::jsonb,
      '{"hello": "world_1"}'::jsonb
    ]
);
 send_batch
------------
          1
          2
```

---

### Reading messages

#### `read`

Read 1 or more messages from a queue. The VT specifies the duration of time in seconds that the message is invisible to other consumers. At the end of that duration, the message is visible again and could be read by other consumers.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
pgmq.read(
    queue_name text,
    vt integer,
    qty integer
)

returns setof pgmq.message_record
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter    | Type      | Description                                                     |
| :----------- | :-------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `queue_name` | `text`    | The name of the queue                                           |
| `vt`         | `integer` | Time in seconds that the message become invisible after reading |
| `qty`        | `integer` | The number of messages to read from the queue. Defaults to 1    |

Example:

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select * from pgmq.read('my_queue', 10, 2);
 msg_id | read_ct |          enqueued_at          |              vt               |       message
--------+---------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+----------------------
      1 |       1 | 2023-10-28 19:14:47.356595-05 | 2023-10-28 19:17:08.608922-05 | {"hello": "world_0"}
      2 |       1 | 2023-10-28 19:14:47.356595-05 | 2023-10-28 19:17:08.608974-05 | {"hello": "world_1"}
(2 rows)
```

---

#### `read_with_poll`

Same as read(). Also provides convenient long-poll functionality.
When there are no messages in the queue, the function call will wait for `max_poll_seconds` in duration before returning.
If messages reach the queue during that duration, they will be read and returned immediately.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
 pgmq.read_with_poll(
    queue_name text,
    vt integer,
    qty integer,
    max_poll_seconds integer default 5,
    poll_interval_ms integer default 100
)
returns setof pgmq.message_record
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter          | Type      | Description                                                                 |
| :----------------- | :-------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `queue_name`       | `text`    | The name of the queue                                                       |
| `vt`               | `integer` | Time in seconds that the message become invisible after reading.            |
| `qty`              | `integer` | The number of messages to read from the queue. Defaults to 1.               |
| `max_poll_seconds` | `integer` | Time in seconds to wait for new messages to reach the queue. Defaults to 5. |
| `poll_interval_ms` | `integer` | Milliseconds between the internal poll operations. Defaults to 100.         |

Example:

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select * from pgmq.read_with_poll('my_queue', 1, 1, 5, 100);
 msg_id | read_ct |          enqueued_at          |              vt               |      message
--------+---------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+--------------------
      1 |       1 | 2023-10-28 19:09:09.177756-05 | 2023-10-28 19:27:00.337929-05 | {"hello": "world"}
```

---

#### `pop`

Reads a single message from a queue and deletes it upon read.

Note: utilization of pop() results in at-most-once delivery semantics if the consuming application does not guarantee processing of the message.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
pgmq.pop(queue_name text)
returns setof pgmq.message_record
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter  | Type | Description           |
| :--------- | :--- | :-------------------- |
| queue_name | text | The name of the queue |

Example:

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
pgmq=# select * from pgmq.pop('my_queue');
 msg_id | read_ct |          enqueued_at          |              vt               |      message
--------+---------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+--------------------
      1 |       2 | 2023-10-28 19:09:09.177756-05 | 2023-10-28 19:27:00.337929-05 | {"hello": "world"}
```

---

### Deleting/Archiving messages

#### `delete` (single)

Deletes a single message from a queue.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
pgmq.delete (queue_name text, msg_id: bigint)
returns boolean
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter    | Type     | Description                         |
| :----------- | :------- | :---------------------------------- |
| `queue_name` | `text`   | The name of the queue               |
| `msg_id`     | `bigint` | Message ID of the message to delete |

Example:

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select pgmq.delete('my_queue', 5);
 delete
--------
 t
```

---

#### `delete` (batch)

Delete one or many messages from a queue.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
pgmq.delete (queue_name text, msg_ids: bigint[])
returns setof bigint
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter    | Type       | Description                    |
| :----------- | :--------- | :----------------------------- |
| `queue_name` | `text`     | The name of the queue          |
| `msg_ids`    | `bigint[]` | Array of message IDs to delete |

Examples:

Delete two messages that exist.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select * from pgmq.delete('my_queue', array[2, 3]);
 delete
--------
      2
      3
```

Delete two messages, one that exists and one that does not. Message `999` does not exist.

```sql
select * from pgmq.delete('my_queue', array[6, 999]);
 delete
--------
      6
```

---

#### `purge_queue`

Permanently deletes all messages in a queue. Returns the number of messages that were deleted.

```text
purge_queue(queue_name text)
returns bigint
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter  | Type | Description           |
| :--------- | :--- | :-------------------- |
| queue_name | text | The name of the queue |

Example:

Purge the queue when it contains 8 messages;

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select * from pgmq.purge_queue('my_queue');
 purge_queue
-------------
           8
```

---

#### `archive` (single)

Removes a single requested message from the specified queue and inserts it into the queue's archive.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
pgmq.archive(queue_name text, msg_id bigint)
returns boolean
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter    | Type     | Description                          |
| :----------- | :------- | :----------------------------------- |
| `queue_name` | `text`   | The name of the queue                |
| `msg_id`     | `bigint` | Message ID of the message to archive |

Returns
Boolean value indicating success or failure of the operation.

Example; remove message with ID 1 from queue `my_queue` and archive it:

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select * from pgmq.archive('my_queue', 1);
 archive
---------
       t
```

---

#### `archive` (batch)

Deletes a batch of requested messages from the specified queue and inserts them into the queue's archive.
Returns an array of message ids that were successfully archived.

```text
pgmq.archive(queue_name text, msg_ids bigint[])
RETURNS SETOF bigint
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter    | Type       | Description                     |
| :----------- | :--------- | :------------------------------ |
| `queue_name` | `text`     | The name of the queue           |
| `msg_ids`    | `bigint[]` | Array of message IDs to archive |

Examples:

Delete messages with ID 1 and 2 from queue `my_queue` and move to the archive.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select * from pgmq.archive('my_queue', array[1, 2]);
 archive
---------
       1
       2
```

Delete messages 4, which exists and 999, which does not exist.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select * from pgmq.archive('my_queue', array[4, 999]);
 archive
---------
       4
```

---

### Utilities

#### `set_vt`

Sets the visibility timeout of a message to a specified time duration in the future. Returns the record of the message that was updated.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
pgmq.set_vt(
    queue_name text,
    msg_id bigint,
    vt_offset integer
)
returns pgmq.message_record
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter    | Type      | Description                                                           |
| :----------- | :-------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `queue_name` | `text`    | The name of the queue                                                 |
| `msg_id`     | `bigint`  | ID of the message to set visibility time                              |
| `vt_offset`  | `integer` | Duration from now, in seconds, that the message's VT should be set to |

Example:

Set the visibility timeout of message 1 to 30 seconds from now.

```sql
select * from pgmq.set_vt('my_queue', 11, 30);
 msg_id | read_ct |          enqueued_at          |              vt               |       message
--------+---------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+----------------------
     1 |       0 | 2023-10-28 19:42:21.778741-05 | 2023-10-28 19:59:34.286462-05 | {"hello": "world_0"}
```

---

#### `list_queues`

List all the queues that currently exist.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
list_queues()
RETURNS TABLE(
    queue_name text,
    created_at timestamp with time zone,
    is_partitioned boolean,
    is_unlogged boolean
)
```

Example:

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select * from pgmq.list_queues();
      queue_name      |          created_at           | is_partitioned | is_unlogged
----------------------+-------------------------------+----------------+-------------
 my_queue             | 2023-10-28 14:13:17.092576-05 | f              | f
 my_partitioned_queue | 2023-10-28 19:47:37.098692-05 | t              | f
 my_unlogged          | 2023-10-28 20:02:30.976109-05 | f              | t
```

---

#### `metrics`

Get metrics for a specific queue.

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
pgmq.metrics(queue_name: text)
returns table(
    queue_name text,
    queue_length bigint,
    newest_msg_age_sec integer,
    oldest_msg_age_sec integer,
    total_messages bigint,
    scrape_time timestamp with time zone
)
```

**Parameters:**

| Parameter  | Type | Description           |
| :--------- | :--- | :-------------------- |
| queue_name | text | The name of the queue |

**Returns:**

| Attribute            | Type                       | Description                                                               |
| :------------------- | :------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------- |
| `queue_name`         | `text`                     | The name of the queue                                                     |
| `queue_length`       | `bigint`                   | Number of messages currently in the queue                                 |
| `newest_msg_age_sec` | `integer                   | null`                                                                     | Age of the newest message in the queue, in seconds |
| `oldest_msg_age_sec` | `integer                   | null`                                                                     | Age of the oldest message in the queue, in seconds |
| `total_messages`     | `bigint`                   | Total number of messages that have passed through the queue over all time |
| `scrape_time`        | `timestamp with time zone` | The current timestamp                                                     |

Example:

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select * from pgmq.metrics('my_queue');
 queue_name | queue_length | newest_msg_age_sec | oldest_msg_age_sec | total_messages |          scrape_time
------------+--------------+--------------------+--------------------+----------------+-------------------------------
 my_queue   |           16 |               2445 |               2447 |             35 | 2023-10-28 20:23:08.406259-05
```

---

#### `metrics_all`

Get metrics for all existing queues.

```text
pgmq.metrics_all()
RETURNS TABLE(
    queue_name text,
    queue_length bigint,
    newest_msg_age_sec integer,
    oldest_msg_age_sec integer,
    total_messages bigint,
    scrape_time timestamp with time zone
)
```

**Returns:**

| Attribute            | Type                       | Description                                                               |
| :------------------- | :------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------- |
| `queue_name`         | `text`                     | The name of the queue                                                     |
| `queue_length`       | `bigint`                   | Number of messages currently in the queue                                 |
| `newest_msg_age_sec` | `integer                   | null`                                                                     | Age of the newest message in the queue, in seconds |
| `oldest_msg_age_sec` | `integer                   | null`                                                                     | Age of the oldest message in the queue, in seconds |
| `total_messages`     | `bigint`                   | Total number of messages that have passed through the queue over all time |
| `scrape_time`        | `timestamp with time zone` | The current timestamp                                                     |

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
select * from pgmq.metrics_all();
      queue_name      | queue_length | newest_msg_age_sec | oldest_msg_age_sec | total_messages |          scrape_time
----------------------+--------------+--------------------+--------------------+----------------+-------------------------------
 my_queue             |           16 |               2563 |               2565 |             35 | 2023-10-28 20:25:07.016413-05
 my_partitioned_queue |            1 |                 11 |                 11 |              1 | 2023-10-28 20:25:07.016413-05
 my_unlogged          |            1 |                  3 |                  3 |              1 | 2023-10-28 20:25:07.016413-05
```

### Types

#### `message_record`

The complete representation of a message in a queue.

| Attribute Name | Type                       | Description                                                            |
| :------------- | :------------------------- | :--------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `msg_id`       | `bigint`                   | Unique ID of the message                                               |
| `read_ct`      | `bigint`                   | Number of times the message has been read. Increments on read().       |
| `enqueued_at`  | `timestamp with time zone` | time that the message was inserted into the queue                      |
| `vt`           | `timestamp with time zone` | Timestamp when the message will become available for consumers to read |
| `message`      | `jsonb`                    | The message payload                                                    |

Example:

{/* prettier-ignore */}
```sql
 msg_id | read_ct |          enqueued_at          |              vt               |      message
--------+---------+-------------------------------+-------------------------------+--------------------
      1 |       1 | 2023-10-28 19:06:19.941509-05 | 2023-10-28 19:06:27.419392-05 | {"hello": "world"}
```

## Resources

- Official Docs: [pgmq/api](https://pgmq.github.io/pgmq/#creating-a-queue)
