Re: [PATCH] Docs: clarify default values of EXPLAIN BUFFERS and SERIALIZE

On Fri, Mar 13, 2026 at 5:38 PM Ryo Matsumura (Fujitsu)
<matsumura(dot)ryo(at)fujitsu(dot)com> wrote:
>
> Hi Hackers,
>
> It looks like the EXPLAIN documentation is missing an explanation of the default values for the BUFFERS and SERIALIZE options.
> I've attached a patch that adds this information.
> While the documentation currently notes that these options are implicitly enabled when ANALYZE is specified, the default values of the parameters themselves do not appear to be documented.

+1 to adding a description of the default value.

format, only non-zero values are printed. Buffers information is
automatically included when <literal>ANALYZE</literal> is used.
+ It defaults to <literal>FALSE</literal>.

How about clarifying the default depending on whether ANALYZE is used?
For example:

When ANALYZE is used, this parameter defaults to TRUE and buffer usage
information is included. Otherwise, it defaults to FALSE.

argument, <literal>TEXT</literal> is assumed.
+ It defaults to <literal>FALSE</literal>.

Does SERIALIZE actually accept FALSE?

Regards,

--
Fujii Masao