BIGSERIAL data type

The BIGSERIAL data type stores a sequential integer, of the BIGINT data type, that is assigned automatically by the database server when a new row is inserted. The behavior of the BIGSERIAL data type is similar to the SERIAL data type, but with a larger range.

The default BIGSERIAL starting number is 1, but you can assign an initial value, n, when you create or alter the table. The value of n must be a positive integer in the range of 1 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807. If you insert the value zero (0) in a BIGSERIAL column, the value that is used is the maximum positive value that already exists in the BIGSERIAL column + 1. If you insert any value that is not zero, that value will be inserted as it is.

A table can have no more than one SERIAL column, but it can have a SERIAL column and either a SERIAL8 column or a BIGSERIAL column.

For information about:

The SERIAL data type, see SERIAL(n) data type
Using the SERIAL8 data type with the INT8 or BIGINT data type, see Using SERIAL8 and BIGSERIAL with INT8 or BIGINT