Parameter · Preset Options
debug_assertions
Shows whether the running server has assertion checks enabled.
- Default:
off - Type: bool
- Applies: Read-only
In plain words
Developers can build PostgreSQL with extra internal self-checks (assertions). They make it much slower, so production packages never have them. This shows off on any normal server.
For DBAs and operators
On only when built with configure --enable-cassert (or meson -Dcassert=true). A failed assertion crashes the backend with TRAP: failed Assert("…"), File: "…", Line: …, PID: … and the postmaster terminates all other sessions and runs crash recovery. If a customer's server reports on, they are running a debug build: expect large slowdowns, and do not use it for performance comparisons.
How to change it
Fixed when PostgreSQL was built or the cluster was initialised. You can only read it.