Base (Shell) Type

C-implemented base types declared with TYPE name (...).

Base types (also called shell types) are for C-implemented custom types. They require input and output functions already installed in the database.

Base type declaration

SCHEMA public {
    TYPE mytype (
        INPUT          = mytype_in,
        OUTPUT         = mytype_out,
        INTERNALLENGTH = 16,
        ALIGNMENT      = double
    );
}

-- emits
CREATE TYPE "public"."mytype" (
    INPUT          = mytype_in,
    OUTPUT         = mytype_out,
    INTERNALLENGTH = 16,
    ALIGNMENT      = double
);

Full base type with all options

SCHEMA public {
    TYPE complex (
        INPUT          = complex_in,
        OUTPUT         = complex_out,
        RECEIVE        = complex_recv,
        SEND           = complex_send,
        INTERNALLENGTH = 16,
        ALIGNMENT      = double,
        STORAGE        = plain,
        PASSEDBYVALUE
    );
}

-- emits
CREATE TYPE "public"."complex" (
    INPUT          = complex_in,
    OUTPUT         = complex_out,
    RECEIVE        = complex_recv,
    SEND           = complex_send,
    INTERNALLENGTH = 16,
    ALIGNMENT      = double,
    STORAGE        = plain,
    PASSEDBYVALUE
);

Any change to a base type requires DROP TYPE CASCADE then CREATE TYPE — DESTRUCTIVE.