PostGIS
PostGIS is an open-source spatial database extender for PostgreSQL that adds support for geographic objects, allowing location queries to be run in SQL. It enables storing, querying, and manipulating spatial data like points, lines, polygons, and rasters directly within a relational database. This transforms PostgreSQL into a powerful spatial database for GIS (Geographic Information Systems) applications.
Developers should learn PostGIS when building applications that require geographic data analysis, mapping, or location-based services, such as logistics tracking, urban planning, or environmental monitoring. It is essential for scenarios where spatial queries (e.g., finding points within a radius or calculating distances) need to be integrated with traditional relational data, offering performance benefits over file-based GIS systems by leveraging database indexing and transactions.