# Chapter 45. PL/Perl — Perl Procedural Language

Table of Contents

45.1. PL/Perl Functions and Arguments

45.2. Data Values in PL/Perl

45.3. Built-in Functions

45.3.1. Database Access from PL/Perl

45.3.2. Utility Functions in PL/Perl

45.4. Global Values in PL/Perl

45.5. Trusted and Untrusted PL/Perl

45.6. PL/Perl Triggers

45.7. PL/Perl Event Triggers

45.8. PL/Perl Under the Hood

45.8.1. Configuration

45.8.2. Limitations and Missing Features

PL/Perl is a loadable procedural language that enables you to write PostgreSQL functions and procedures in the Perl programming language (opens new window).

The main advantage to using PL/Perl is that this allows use, within stored functions and procedures, of the manyfold “string munging” operators and functions available for Perl. Parsing complex strings might be easier using Perl than it is with the string functions and control structures provided in PL/pgSQL.

To install PL/Perl in a particular database, use CREATE EXTENSION plperl.

# Tip

If a language is installed into template1, all subsequently created databases will have the language installed automatically.

# Note

Users of source packages must specially enable the build of PL/Perl during the installation process. (Refer to Chapter 17 for more information.) Users of binary packages might find PL/Perl in a separate subpackage.