PostgreSQL trigger how to detect a column value explicitely modified

From: PALAYRET Jacques <jacques(dot)palayret(at)meteo(dot)fr>
To: pgsql-general(at)lists(dot)postgresql(dot)org
Subject: PostgreSQL trigger how to detect a column value explicitely modified
Date: 2025-11-04 12:48:48
Message-ID: 616435641.255753519.1762260528389.JavaMail.zimbra@meteo.fr
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Hello,

In a trigger body, is there a simple way to know if a column value has been explicitely modified ?
Explicitely modified ; in others words, typically indicated in the SET clause of the UPDATE.
A simple way ; I mean without analysing the SQL statement which can be very difficult according to the statement.

# My trigger function executed by trigger BEFORE UPDATE ON a table tb (with columns id, c2, c3 ; of integer type) FOR EACH ROW :
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION func_tg_upd()
RETURNS trigger LANGUAGE plpgsql
AS $function$
BEGIN
if NEW.c2 != 1
then
NEW.c2 := 0 ;
end if;
return NEW;
END;
$function$
;

# Actions of the trigger
UPDATE tb
SET c 2 =2
WHERE ... -- old c2 value can be 2 or another value
;
=> c2 will be changed to 0 by the trigger, OK , because I explicitely indicated the new value of c2 to a value different from 1.
The the old value of c2 could be different or not.
Example :
TABLE tb ;
id | c2 | c3
-----+----+----
100 | 1 | 2

UPDATE tb
SET c2=2
;
TABLE tb ;
id | c2 | c3
-----+----+----
100 | 0 | 2

---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------

UPDATE tb
SET c 3 =3
WHERE ... -- and c2=2 ( previous value of c2 is 2 )
;
=> c2 will be changed to 0 by the trigger, but I don't want that action ( NOT OK for me ) because I didn't explicitely indicate the new value 2 to c2 .
Example :
TABLE tb ;
id | c2 | c3
-----+----+----
100 | 2 | 2

UPDATE tb
SET c3=3
;
TABLE tb ;
id | c2 | c3
-----+----+----
100 | 0 | 3

Regards
----- Météo-France -----
PALAYRET Jacques
DCSC/GDC
jacques(dot)palayret(at)meteo(dot)fr
Fixe : +33 561078319

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