--- title: PostgresSQL Transaction ID Utilization to Implement MVCC's description: Ensure seamless database operation by mastering PostgreSQL transaction ID utilization. Cloud SQL metrics provide insights! image: https://www.c2cglobal.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/General%20Article%20Graphic-Mar-21-2024-09-11-30-9884-PM-Mar-26-2024-08-46-19-0512-PM.jpg --- [![c2c logo blue](https://www.c2cglobal.com/hubfs/c2c-logo-blue.svg "c2c logo blue")](https://www.c2cglobal.com/) [Infrastructure](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/tag/infrastructure), [Databases](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/tag/databases) # What's Postgres transaction ID utilization and why it matters By [Seiji Manoan Seo](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/author/seiji-manoan-seo) | March 7, 2022 PostgreSQL uses transaction IDs (also called TXIDs or XIDs) to implement Multi-Version Concurrency Control semantics (MVCC). To prevent transaction ID wraparound, PostgreSQL uses a [vacuum](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/routine-vacuuming.html) mechanism, which operates as a background task called [autovacuum](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/routine-vacuuming.html#AUTOVACUUM) (enabled by default), or it can be run manually using the [VACUUM](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/sql-vacuum.html) command. A vacuum operation freezes committed transaction IDs and releases them for further use. You can think of this mechanism as "recycling" of transaction IDs that keeps the database operating despite using a finite number to store the transaction ID. Vacuum can sometimes be blocked due to workload patterns, or it can become too slow to keep up with database activity. If transaction ID utilization continues to grow despite the freezing performed by autovacuum or manual vacuum, the database will eventually refuse to accept new commands to protect itself against TXID wraparound. To help you monitor your database and ensure that this doesn't happen, Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL introduced three new metrics: - transaction\_id\_utilization - transaction\_id\_count - oldest\_transaction\_age ![](https://www.c2cglobal.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/4010c605-ea25-419b-887d-e5e408f7d00d-1.png)   ![👉](https://www.c2cglobal.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1f449-1.png ":point_right:") Read further [Monitor transaction ID utilization in Cloud SQL PostgreSQL | Google Cloud Blog](https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/databases/monitor-transaction-id-utilization-in-cloud-sql-postgresql) --- ## Recent Articles [Data Analytics](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/tag/data-analytics) ## [Generative AI: Are You Behind?!](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/generative-ai-are-you-behind) Review the latest insights from the AI Readiness Report. By Bruno Aziza [Industry Solutions](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/tag/industry-solutions) ## [Make "Gen AI Work": Landscape, SLMs vs. LLMs, Cost & More...](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/make-gen-ai-work-landscape-slms-vs.-llms-cost-more) Discover the 5 metrics you need to know in order to be an exceptional CEO and Operator. By Bruno Aziza [Google Cloud Strategy](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/tag/google-cloud-strategy) ## [AI Cheat Sheet](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/ai-cheat-sheet) AI is no more and no less the drive to create robots with human minds so they can do everything we do and more. Use this cheat sheet to help decode the space. By Leah Zitter ## Subscribe to our newsletter Get the latest from C2C, direct to your inbox. [Subscribe](https://share.hsforms.com/1znKGo6ySS9uaRyvLQQzxRw4qbyr) ![c2c-logo-white-tagline](https://www.c2cglobal.com/hubfs/c2c-logo-white-tagline.svg "c2c-logo-white-tagline") C2C is the only peer-to-peer community built to support, connect, and educate Google Cloud customers across regions and industries so they can better harness the power of the cloud—and each other—to solve their biggest challenges and drive innovation. ©2024  C2C Global. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://www.c2cglobal.com/privacy) 20 N Wacker Drive • Suite 1810 • Chicago, IL • 60606 **Join over 60K members on C2C.** Let's connect! - [mailto:hello@c2cglobal.com](mailto:hello@c2cglobal.com) - - - [![X](https://www.c2cglobal.com/hubfs/twitter-x-icon-white.svg)](https://twitter.com/MeetC2C) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=2634489&fmt=gif)