---
title: "Index types supported in Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL using extensions (SP-GiST, Btree_Gin and Btree_Gist)"
url: https://daily.dev/posts/index-types-supported-in-amazon-aurora-postgresql-and-amazon-rds-for-postgresql-using-extensions-sp-crsoycppr
source_url: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/database/index-types-supported-in-amazon-aurora-postgresql-and-amazon-rds-for-postgresql-using-extensions-sp-gist-btree_gin-and-btree_gist
type: article
source: "AWS Database Blog"
published: 2026-06-03T15:27:37.095Z
updated: 2026-06-03T15:28:07.051Z
tags: ["aws", "database", "postgresql"]
reading_time: 14
upvotes: 0
comments: 0
language: en
---

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# Index types supported in Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL using extensions (SP-GiST, Btree_Gin and Btree_Gist)

**[AWS Database Blog](https://daily.dev/sources/aws-database-blog)** · 14 min read · 0 upvotes · 0 comments

## Summary

A deep dive into three PostgreSQL extension-based index types available on Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL and RDS for PostgreSQL: SP-GiST, btree_gin, and btree_gist. SP-GiST supports partitioned search trees ideal for spatial data and prefix searches. btree_gin enables unified GIN indexes spanning both array and scalar columns, eliminating costly BitmapAnd operations for mixed-type queries. btree_gist allows unified GiST indexes across range and scalar columns and uniquely enables exclusion constraints (e.g., preventing overlapping bookings). Each extension comes with trade-offs: SP-GiST has limited operator support and write overhead; btree_gin has significant GIN update costs; btree_gist handles updates better than GIN but still adds write overhead compared to B-tree. Practical SQL examples and query plan comparisons are included throughout.

## Full article

daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: <https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/database/index-types-supported-in-amazon-aurora-postgresql-and-amazon-rds-for-postgresql-using-extensions-sp-gist-btree_gin-and-btree_gist>

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Tags: [#aws](https://daily.dev/tags/aws), [#database](https://daily.dev/tags/database), [#postgresql](https://daily.dev/tags/postgresql)

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