[postgis-users] ST_DWithin, ST_Distance and <->

[Regina Obe]

ST_Distance existed before we had  <->.  

 

If you are using PostgreSQL 9.5+ with PostGIS 2.2, you can just stick with using  <->, but note that it doesn't always use and index.  <-> only uses and index when it is in the ORDER BY clause and one side is a constant geometry (which you can achieve even when you don't have a constant by using a LATERAL clause).

 

In the case of geography though <-> will always give the sphere distance, while ST_Distance by default gives the spheroid distance.  So ST_Distance is slightly more accurate to use for geography.

 

We accept patches on documentation BTW.  

 

 

From: postgis-users [mailto:postgis-users-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Eric St-Georges
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2018 4:47 PM
To: postgis-users at lists.osgeo.org
Subject: [postgis-users] ST_DWithin, ST_Distance and <->

 

Hi,

 

Looking for official documentation or guidance regarding the usage of ST_DWithin, ST_Distance and <->, especially when it comes to using indices. For example, the ST_Distance page <https://postgis.net/docs/ST_Distance.html>  itself doesn't mention that the function will not use indices.

 

For example: 

If I want to get the closest point to another, why can't ST_Distance use an index, but <-> can?

Is there anyway to get a distance in meters or some other unit from the <-> operator on geography types?

if ST_DWithin and <-> and other similar functions/operators should be used when dealing with distance, what's the use case for ST_Distance?

 

Regards,

Eric St-Georges

 

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