The PostgreSQL wire protocol can send data in both binary and text format. When using text
format, the Server will normally send output back to the client using a format
understood by PostgreSQL clients. If you are using the server with a text-only client that does
not try to interpret the data that is returned by the server, such as for example psql, then it
is advisable to use Cloud Spanner formatting. The server will then return all data in a format
understood by Cloud Spanner.
The default format used by the server is TextFormat.
The default format. Data is returned to the client in a format that PostgreSQL clients should
be able to understand and stringParse. Use this format if you are using the Server
with a client that tries to interpret the data that is returned by the server, such as for
example the PostgreSQL JDBC driver.
SPANNER
Data is returned to the client in Cloud Spanner format. Use this format if you are using the
server with a text-only client, such as psql, that does not try to interpret and stringParse
the data that is returned.