Simplifying Time-Based Queries with Range Columns

The article discusses the use of range-type columns in Postgres to handle events or periods efficiently. Traditionally, developers use two separate columns for start and end times, which can lead to complex queries and difficulty ensuring data integrity. Range types are a solution that hold the beginning and end of a range of a base type, such as int4range for integers, tstzrange for timestamps, and daterange for dates. These range values allow for easy querying using operators like && and can be used to add constraints preventing overlapping events or reservations. The article also demonstrates how to create an air-tight table that holds reservations by leveraging these features in Postgres.