Parameter · Preset Options
integer_datetimes
Shows whether datetimes are integer based.
- Default:
on - Type: bool
- Applies: Read-only
In plain words
Dates and times are stored internally as 64-bit integer microseconds. Old versions could be built to use floating point instead; since PostgreSQL 10 integer storage is the only option, so this always shows on.
For DBAs and operators
Kept for compatibility: client drivers check it (it is a GUC_REPORT parameter sent at connection start) to know how to decode binary timestamp values. Microsecond precision over the whole range (4713 BC to 294276 AD) comes from the integer representation. You will only see off on pre-10 servers built with --disable-integer-datetimes; such data directories cannot be upgraded with pg_upgrade.
How to change it
Fixed when PostgreSQL was built or the cluster was initialised. You can only read it.