Re: Clarification on the (lack of) differences between the decimal, dec, and numeric types

From: "David G(dot) Johnston" <david(dot)g(dot)johnston(at)gmail(dot)com>
To: "scott(dot)ratchford(at)smartlam(dot)com" <scott(dot)ratchford(at)smartlam(dot)com>, "pgsql-docs(at)lists(dot)postgresql(dot)org" <pgsql-docs(at)lists(dot)postgresql(dot)org>
Subject: Re: Clarification on the (lack of) differences between the decimal, dec, and numeric types
Date: 2026-02-12 22:45:04
Message-ID: CAKFQuwbszf7Z3CpTM2y3Z3XqX3VV90XR8ZD_DFnXv4O+TDwjUw@mail.gmail.com
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On Thursday, February 12, 2026, PG Doc comments form <noreply(at)postgresql(dot)org>
wrote:
>
>
> I suggest changing the wording of the page to read "decimal is an alias of
> the type numeric. Both reference the same underlying type."
>

I agree with the premise but would likely use a bit different wording and
also tweak the table at the top of the page. I’m disliking the idea of
calling something a data type if it doesn’t appear in pg_type; syntax
aliases should be called out for what they are. A nearby complaint
regarding nchar, which is also an alias but isn’t mentioned, informs this.
I do wonder what other “data type” aliases should be considered.

David J.

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