Why PostgreSQL Isn't Utilizing Indexes: Diagnosing and Solving Performance Issues

Indexes are one of the most important tools for PostgreSQL performance, but there are times when the query planner chooses not to use them. Understanding why can be critical to diagnosing slow queries and improving application performance. In this session, Chandra Pathivada, DB Solutions Architect at AWS, explores common reasons PostgreSQL may avoid index usage and the techniques used to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks. The presentation covers query planning, execution strategies, statistics, indexing considerations, and practical approaches to performance troubleshooting. Whether you're a database administrator, developer, or performance engineer, this session provides valuable insights into understanding PostgreSQL query behavior and optimizing database workloads. Speaker: Chandra Pathivada DB Solutions Architect, AWS