In the previous chapter, we looked at how we can optimize our raster datasets in to be able to serve them more efficiently. In this chapter, we will take a look at how we can work with vector datasets in a production environment, with our focus being on serving the data through spatial database platforms. Although GeoServer is very good at serving data from flat file formats such as Esri shapefiles, you can't beat the performance benefits from utilizing a spatial database platform in a production environment with large datasets. Out of the box, GeoServer will support connecting to a PostGIS database; however, GeoServer's pluggable architecture can be used to support other platforms. At the time of writing this book, there are official extensions for the following database platforms:

Additional database platforms...