Re: Making the ENUM operators LEAKPROOF

Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>

From: Tom Lane <tgl@sss.pgh.pa.us>
To: Laurenz Albe <laurenz.albe@cybertec.at>
Cc: pgsql-hackers@lists.postgresql.org
Date: 2026-07-01T22:33:45Z
Lists: pgsql-hackers
Laurenz Albe <laurenz.albe@cybertec.at> writes:
> This is an attempt to get the operators from the "enum_ops" operator
> class LEAKPROOF.

I think we should reject this idea.  Our standard for marking
functions leakproof has always included a requirement that the amount
of code involved be small enough that one can immediately confirm that
there is no information leak.  I don't think that enum_cmp() can meet
that standard; the length of your argument already proves the point.
The issue here is not really "can I convince myself that it's safe
today?".  It's more about "am I willing to bet that no future code
change is going to unintentionally break the property?".  The more
code involved, the riskier that bet.

I know that you are going to say "but text_cmp covers a lot of
ground, including code (in libc or ICU) that isn't even ours".
To my mind, we made an exception for text_cmp because the performance
consequences of not making it leakproof were unacceptable.
I do not think enum_cmp() can clear that bar either.

FWIW, I do agree that marking enum_eq leakproof is safe.  How
many of the use-cases you are worried about would be satisfied
with that?

			regards, tom lane