Answer
VACUUM FULL rewrites the table, reclaiming space and compacting rows but requires an exclusive lock. Regular VACUUM only removes dead tuples and updates visibility maps without heavy locking.
Quick Answer
Regular VACUUM marks dead tuples as reusable space without compacting the file or returning space to the OS. VACUUM FULL rewrites the entire table to a new file, reclaiming disk space (table shrinks). VACUUM FULL requires an exclusive lock (all reads and writes block during operation) - not safe on high-traffic tables. Use VACUUM FULL rarely, or use pg_repack as a non-blocking alternative.
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SugharaIQ Editorial Team
Verified Answer
This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.
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Source: SugharaIQ