PostgreSQL has a rich set of features designed to handle complex queries efficiently. Much like any database system, however, its performance can degrade over time due to inefficient queries, improper indexing, and various other factors. To tackle these challenges, PostgreSQL provides several tools and extensions, among which `pg_stat_statements` stands out as a critical component for performance monitoring and tuning. Introduction to pg_stat_statements `pg_stat_statements` is an extension for PostgreSQL that tracks execution statistics of SQL statements. It is designed to provide insight into the performance characteristics of database queries by collecting data on various metrics such as execution time, number of calls, and I/O operations. This extension is immensely useful for database administrators and developers looking to optimize their SQL queries and improve overall database performance.