---
title: Array Functions and Operators
slug: 5mNIuZuTKyp4sNnhiOKhx
description: Discover functions and operators for handling arrays in Ocient, allowing complex data structuring.
docTags: 
createdAt: Thu Jul 21 2022 17:05:13 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
updatedAt: Mon Apr 06 2026 21:21:04 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
---

The Ocient® System enables you to work with data as arrays. The system contains functions that work with arrays and operators that enable you to parse data within arrays.

## ARRAY\_CAT\_DISTINCT

Concatenates two or more arrays in the order of the input arguments. After concatenation, the function removes duplicates from the result array while preserving the first occurrence order. The function skips any NULL input arguments. If all input arrays are NULL, the function returns a NULL. If at least one NULL element is present in the array, the function returns a NULL in the result array with the position of the first NULL the function finds in the order of the input arguments.

**Syntax**

```sql
ARRAY_CAT_DISTINCT(input_array1, input_array2 [, ...])
```

| **Argument**                         | **Data** **Type** | **Description**                                                                                                            |
| ------------------------------------ | ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `input_array1, input_array2 [, ...]` | ARRAY             | Two or more arrays for concatenation and deduplication. The elements within all input arrays must have the same data type. |

**Examples**

**Concatenate Two Arrays and Remove Duplicates**

Concatenate two arrays and remove duplicate elements within the arrays.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY_CAT_DISTINCT(ARRAY[1,2,2,3,1], ARRAY[2,3,4,4,5]);
```

Output: `[1,2,3,4,5]`

**Concatenate Two Arrays with NULLs and Remove Duplicates&#x20;**

Deduplicate the contents of the array. In this case, the array contains NULLs.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY_CAT_DISTINCT(ARRAY[1,2,2,NULL,1], ARRAY[2,4,4,NULL]);
```

Output: `[1,2,NULL,4]`

## ARRAY\_DISTINCT

Removes duplicates from an array while preserving the first occurrence order. If at least one NULL is present in the array, the function returns a NULL with the position of the first NULL of the input array in the output array.

**Syntax**

```sql
ARRAY_DISTINCT(input_array)
```

| **Argument**  | **Data** **Type** | **Description**               |
| ------------- | ----------------- | ----------------------------- |
| `input_array` | ARRAY             | The array for deduplication.  |

**Examples**

**Remove Duplicates from an Array**

Deduplicate the contents of the array.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY_DISTINCT(ARRAY[1,2,2,3,1]);
```

Output: `[1,2,3]`

**Remove Duplicates from an Array with NULLs**

Deduplicate the contents of the array. In this case, the array contains NULLs.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY_DISTINCT(ARRAY[1,2,NULL,2,3,NULL,1]);
```

Output: `[1,2,NULL,3]`

## ARRAY\_LENGTH

Returns the length of the array for the specified dimension. If the array is a nested array, the function returns the length of the outermost array.

**Syntax**

```sql
ARRAY_LENGTH(input_array)
```

| **Argument**  | **Data** **Type** | **Description**                                                                             |
| ------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `input_array` | ARRAY             | The array that contains any type of elements. The array can be single or multi-dimensional. |

**Example**

Return the length of the array.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY_LENGTH(ARRAY[1,2]);
```

Output: `2`

## ARRAY\_SORT

Sorts and returns the input array based on the natural ordering of its elements. The behavior of this function varies depending on the syntax you use.

**Syntaxes**

**Basic Array Sort**

Sorts and returns the input array based on the natural ordering of its elements. If one of the array elements is NULL, then this function sorts the NULL values to the end of the array.&#x20;

```sql
ARRAY_SORT(input_array)
```

| **Argument**  | **Data** **Type** | **Description**                                                                                                                         |
| ------------- | ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `input_array` | ARRAY             | An array of elements with these types: `BIGINT`, `BOOLEAN`, `BYTE`, `DATE`, `DOUBLE`, `FLOAT`, `INT`, `SMALLINT`, `UUID`, or `VARCHAR`. |

**Sort an Array With a Lambda Function**

Sorts and returns the input array based on the results of the specified Lambda function. The function should have two arguments representing two elements of the array. This function should return a negative integer, 0, or a positive integer if the first element is less than, equal to, or greater than the second element, respectively.

```sql
ARRAY_SORT(input_array,function)
```

| **Argument**  | **Data** **Type** | **Description**                                                                                                        |
| ------------- | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `input_array` | ARRAY             | An array that contains any type of elements. The array can be single or multi-dimensional.                             |
| `function`    | FUNCTION          | This is an optional argument. A lambda function with the format `(x T, y T) -> INT` or another SQL reference function. |

:::hint{type="info"}
The Ocient System supports this syntax with the data pipeline functionality only. For details, see [Transform Data in Data Pipelines](<././Load Data/Transform Data in Data Pipelines.md>).
:::

**Sort an Array in the Specified Order**

Determines how the array handles the order of elements in the array.

```sql
ARRAY_SORT(input_array,sort_order)
```

| **Argument**  | **Data** **Type** | **Description**                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| ------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `input_array` | ARRAY             | An array of elements with these types: `BIGINT`, `BOOLEAN`, `BYTE`, `DATE`, `DOUBLE`, `FLOAT`, `INT`, `SMALLINT`, `UUID`, or `VARCHAR`.                                                          |
| `sort_order`  | BOOLEAN           | This is an optional argument. <br /><br />Determines the sort order of the array. The value `true` means ascending order. The value `false` means descending order. The default value is `true`. |

**Sort an Array in the Specified Order with NULL Elements**

Determines how the array handles the order of elements in the array and where NULL elements appear.

```sql
ARRAY_SORT(input_array,sort_order,nulls_first)
```

| **Argument**  | **Data** **Type** | **Description**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| ------------- | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `input_array` | ARRAY             | An array of elements with these types: `BIGINT`, `BOOLEAN`, `BYTE`, `DATE`, `DOUBLE`, `FLOAT`, `INT`, `SMALLINT`, `UUID`, or `VARCHAR`.                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| `sort_order`  | BOOLEAN           | This is an optional argument. <br /><br />Determines the sort order of the array. The value `true` means ascending order. The value `false` means descending order. The default value is `true`.                                                                                                                                    |
| `nulls_first` | BOOLEAN           | This is an optional argument. <br /><br />Determines whether NULL elements appear first or last in the array. The `true` value means that NULLs appear first in the array. The `false` value means that they appear last. If the array is in ascending order, the default value is `false`. Otherwise, the default value is `true`. |

**Examples**

**Sort an Array**

Sort an array of three elements `[2,3,1]`.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY_SORT(ARRAY[2,3,1]);
```

Output: `[1,2,3]`&#x20;

**Sort an Array by Specifying the Sort Order**

Sort an array of four elements `[2,3,1,NULL]` and specify the order of the elements in descending order.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY_SORT(ARRAY[2,3,1,NULL],false);
```

Output: `[NULL,3,2,1]`

**Sort an Array by Specifying the Sort Order and NULL Placement**

Sort an array of four elements `[2,NULL,3,1]` and specify the order of the elements in ascending order, and have the NULL element appear last.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY_SORT(ARRAY[2,NULL,3,1],true,false);
```

Output: `[1,2,3,NULL]`

## UNNEST

Expands each element in an input array into an individual row.&#x20;

For example, the `UNNEST` function on an array column of type `ARRAY(INT)` with values `[2, 6]` yields two result rows with integers `2` and `6`.&#x20;

The values of the other columns in each input row are unchanged in each corresponding output row. You can specify multiple array columns to unnest the specified arrays from each row in parallel.

**Syntax**

```sql
UNNEST( array_column [, ... ]​ ) 
   [ WITH <unnest_options> ]
   
<unnest_options> ::=
   { ORDINALITY [ ord_identifier ]
   | VALUE [ val_identifier ] 
   | NULL_INPUT }
```

| **Argument**     | **Data** **Type** | **Description**                                                                                        |
| ---------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `array_column`   | `ARRAY`           | The array column to expand.                                                                            |
| `ord_identifier` | `CHAR`            | When you use this argument in an `ORDINALITY` clause, the argument is the name for the output column.  |
| `val_identifier` | `CHAR`            | When you use this argument in a `VALUE` clause, the argument is the name for the unnested column.      |

The `UNNEST` function supports these options. When you use only one of these options, enclosing the option in parentheses is optional. However, if you use more than one of these options, you must enclose them in parentheses.

| **Options**                   | **Description**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| ----------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `ORDINALITY [ord_identifier]` | Optional.<br />Generates a new integer column that corresponds to the index position of each output element in the original array. The `ord_identifier` value specifies the name of the output ordinality column. <br />If you do not specify this clause, the column name defaults to the original column name with the suffix `_ord`. |
| `VALUE [val_identifier]`      | Optional.<br />Rename the unnested column to the new name specified in the `val_identifier` argument. <br />If you do not specify this clause, the column name defaults to the original column name with the suffix `_val`.                                                                                                             |
| `NULL_INPUT`                  | Optional.<br />When the input column array is empty or NULL, this clause specifies to replace each output row with an array with one NULL element. This replacement preserves the contents of other input rows. By default, this option is not enabled.                                                                                 |

These examples demonstrate how the `UNNEST` function operates on arrays and other objects. Most of the examples use the data rows from this table.

```Text
a   b        c        d     e      f
--------------------------------------------
1   [1, 2]   [6, 9]   []    NULL   [[1, 2], [5], []]
2   [7, 5]   [4]      [3]   [8]    [[6], [9, 4, 7], [3, 8]]
```

**Examples**

**Expand a Column**

This example performs a simple `UNNEST` on column `b`.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT UNNEST(b);
```

*Output*

```Text
b_val  
-----------
1
2
7
5
```

**Expand a Column Using the&#x20;**`ORDINALITY`**&#x20;Option**

In this example, the `ORDINALITY` option adds a second return column that represents the index position of the value in the input array.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT UNNEST(b) WITH ORDINALITY;
```

*Output*

```Text
b_val   b_ord
--------------------
1       1
2       2
7       1
5       2
```

**Expand a Column with Empty Data**

In this example, the `UNNEST` query returns only one row because one of the two rows in column `d` is an empty array.&#x20;

If you use the `NULL_INPUT` option, the query returns a second row with the `NULL` value.

```sql
SELECT UNNEST(d);
```

*Output*

```Text
d_val 
------------
3
```

**Expand a Column with NULL Data**

`UNNEST` also does not return array values that are `NULL` unless you specify the `NULL_INPUT` option.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT UNNEST(e);
```

*Output*

```Text
e_val 
------------
8
```

**Expand a Column with Multiple Array Layers**

The `UNNEST` function expands only one array layer.&#x20;

:::hint{type="info"}
The empty array remains in the returned values.
:::

```sql
SELECT UNNEST(f);
```

*Output*

```Text
f_val 
------------
[1,2]
[5]
[]
[6]
[9,4,7]
[3,8]
```

**Expand Columns Using Multiple&#x20;**`UNNEST`**&#x20;Statements**

Multiple `UNNEST` statements in a query produce a per-row Cartesian product of all the unnested values.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT UNNEST(b), UNNEST(c);
```

*Output*

```Text
b_val   c_val
------------
1       6
1       9
2       6
2       9
7       4
5       4
```

**Expand Columns Using Multiple&#x20;**`UNNEST`**&#x20;Statements in Reverse Order**

This example uses `UNNEST` on the same columns but in reverse order.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT UNNEST(c), UNNEST(b);
```

*Output*

```Text
c_val   b_val
------------
6       1
6       2
9       1
9       2
4       7
4       5
```

**Expand Multiple Columns**

In this example, the query unnests two array columns in parallel. Even though it does not include the `NULL_INPUT` option, the query still returns NULL for column `c` to correspond with column `b`.

```sql
SELECT UNNEST(b, c);
```

*Output*

```Text
b_val   c_val
------------
1       6
2       9
7       4
5       NULL
```

**Expand M****ultiple Array Columns**

This query unnests two array columns.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT UNNEST(b, d);
```

*Output*

```Text
b_val   d_val
------------
1       NULL
2       NULL
7       3
5       NULL
```

**Expand Values of Arrays Within Arrays**

This example has two layers of `UNNEST` to capture values of arrays within arrays.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT UNNEST(f_val) FROM (UNNEST(f));
```

*Output*

```Text
f_val 
------------
1
2
5
6
9
4
7
3
8

```

**Expand an Empty Array**

This example unnests an empty integer array.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT UNNEST(INT[]());
```

*Output*

```Text
col_val   
------------
```

The query returns a column of type `INT` but no rows. &#x20;

**Expand an Empty Array Column Without the&#x20;**`NULL_INPUT`**&#x20;Option**

This example selects the non-array column `a` and an empty array column. The query returns no rows because empty or `NULL` array values are not returned unless you specify the `NULL_INPUT` option.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT a, UNNEST(INT[]()); 
```

*Output*

```Text
a   col_val   
------------
```

**Expand a Column Without the&#x20;**`NULL_INPUT`**&#x20;Option**

This query does not include the `NULL_INPUT` option, which causes the result to omit the NULL array values in column `e`.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT a, UNNEST(e); 
```

*Output*

```Text
a   e_val   
------------
1   8
2   8
```

**Expand a Column&#x20;****with the&#x20;**`NULL_INPUT`**&#x20;Option**

This query includes the `NULL_INPUT` option, which means that the query returns the NULL values in column `e`.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT a, UNNEST(e) WITH NULL_INPUT; 
```

*Output*

```Text
a   e_val   
------------
1   8
1   NULL
2   8
2   NULL
```

**Expand Arrays with NULL Rows**

This example attempts to unnest two arrays, one of which is cast as NULL, while the other is empty.&#x20;

In both cases, the query returns a column of type `INTEGER` with no rows because there are no values to unnest.

```sql
SELECT UNNEST(CAST(NULL AS INT[]);

SELECT UNNEST(INT[]());
```

*Output*

```Text
col_val   
------------
```

## Other Array Functions

| **Function**             | **Syntax**                                       | **Purpose**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Constructor              | TYPE\[]\(e1, e2, …, en)                          | Construct an array of SQL type TYPE giving the elements. NULL is also supported as an element.                                                                                                                                                              |
| Constructor (2)          | array\[e1, e2, …, en]                            | PostgreSQL®-compliant constructor. The type of the array is deduced from the elements.                                                                                                                                                                      |
| array concatenation      | array\_cat(array, array)                         | Concatenate 2 arrays into a new one.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| array softmax            | softmax(array)                                   | Returns the softmax of the array. The array must be one-dimensional and contain float or double values. The system transfers NULL-valued indices as 0.0.                                                                                                    |
| array cross entropy loss | cross\_entropy\_loss(array, array)               | Returns the cross entropy loss of two arrays. Both arrays must be one-dimensional and contain float or double values. NULL values do not contribute to the sum.                                                                                             |
| array log loss           | log\_loss(array, array)                          | Returns the log loss of two arrays. Both arrays must be one-dimensional and contain float or double values. NULL values do not contribute to the sum.                                                                                                       |
| array logits loss        | logits\_loss(array, array)                       | Returns the logits loss of two arrays. Both arrays must be one-dimensional and contain float or double values. NULL values do not contribute to the sum.                                                                                                    |
| array hinge loss         | hinge\_loss(array, array)                        | Returns the hinge loss of two arrays. Both arrays must be one-dimensional and contain float or double values. NULL values do not contribute to the sum.                                                                                                     |
| array sum                | array\_sum(array)                                | Returns the sum of the array. The array must be one-dimensional and contain numeric values. NULL values do not contribute to the sum.                                                                                                                       |
| array min/max            | array\_min(array), array\_max(array)             | Returns the corresponding minimum or maximum of the array. This function only considers the first dimension of the array. If the array contains only NULL values, then the function returns NULL.                                                           |
| array argmax             | array\_argmax(array)                             | Returns the 1-based position (index) of the maximum element in an array. The first element has index 1.<br /><br />This function only considers the first dimension of the array. If the array contains only NULL values, then the function returns NULL.   |
| array argmin             | array\_argmin(array)                             | Returns the 1-based position (index) of the minimum element in an array. The first element has index 1.<br />**<br />This function only considers the first dimension of the array. If the array contains only NULL values, then the function returns NULL. |
| array casting            | cast\_to\_array(array, format)                   | Casts the elements of the array to another type, as specified by the format string. The format is: `'ARRAY(INT)'` for an `int` array, `'ARRAY(CHAR)'` for a `char` array, and so on. Currently, only numeric casts are supported.                           |
| scalar position          | array\_position(array, scalar, pos = 1 )         | Returns the position of the first matching scalar in the array. pos indicates the position to start searching, if not specified it defaults to 1.                                                                                                           |
| array elements positions | array\_positions(array, array )                  | Same as array\_position(). But this looks for all elements stored in the right array and returns their respective positions in the left array.                                                                                                              |
| array append             | array\_append(array, value)                      | Add value to the back of an array                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| array prepend            | array\_prepend(value, array)                     | Add value to the front of an array                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| array remove             | array\_remove(array, value)                      | remove value from the array                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| array replace            | array\_replace(array, old\_value, new\_value)    | replace value by another in an array                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| convert array to string  | char(array)                                      | Converts array to its string representation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| convert array to string  | array\_to\_string(array, delimiter \[, nullstr]) | Converts array to a list of elements separated by 'delimiter'. Nested arrays are flattened. NULL values are either ignored or replaced by *nullstr* if provided.                                                                                            |
| convert string to array  | string\_to\_array(str, format)                   | Converts the string representation of an array (e.g., `'int[1,2,NULL]'`) into an array. The format string is the same as in cast\_to\_array.                                                                                                                |

### Function Examples

| **Function**             | **SQL statement**                                | **Result**                          |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------- |
| type constructor         | int\[]\(1,2)                                     | int array with values 1 and 2       |
| constructor with no type | array\[1,2]                                      | bigint array with values 1 and 2    |
| array\_cat               | array\_cat(array\[2, 3], array\[4, 5])           | array\[2, 3, 4, 5]                  |
| array\_length            | array\_length(array\[2, 3])                      | 2                                   |
| cast\_to\_array          | cast\_to\_array(array\[2.5, 3.4], 'ARRAY(INT)')  | int\[]\(2,3)                        |
| array\_position          | array\_position(array\[1, 2, 1], 1)              | 1                                   |
|                          | array\_position(array\[1, 2, 3, 4, 1], 1, 3)     | 5                                   |
| array\_positions         | array\_positions(array\[1, 2, 3, 4, 1], 1)       | int\[]\(1,5)                        |
| array\_append            | array\_append(array\[1,2], 3)                    | array\[1,2,3]                       |
| array\_prepend           | array\_prepend(0, array\[1,2])                   | array\[0,1,2]                       |
| array\_remove            | array\_remove(array\[1,2], 1)                    | array\[2]                           |
| array\_replace           | array\_replace(array\[1,2,4],4,3)                | array\[1,2,3]                       |
| softmax                  | softmax(float\[]\(2.0, 2.0, 2.0, NULL, 2.0))     | float\[0.25, 0.25, 0.25, 0.0, 0.25] |
| array\_sum               | array\_sum(int\[]\(1, 2, 3))                     | 6                                   |
| array\_min               | array\_min(int\[]\(1, -2, 3))                    | -2                                  |
| array\_argmax            | array\_argmax(int\[]\(1, 3, 2))                  | 2                                   |
| array\_argmin            | array\_argmin(int\[]\(1, 3, 2))                  | 1                                   |
| char(\<array value>)     | char(array\[1,2])                                | 'bigint\[1,2]'                      |
| array\_to\_string        | array\_to\_string(int\[1,2,3,NULL,5], ',', '\*') | '1,2,3,\*,5'                        |
| string\_to\_array        | string\_to\_array('int\[1,2]', 'ARRAY(INT)')     | int\[]\(1,2)                        |

## Array Operators

Ocient array operators allow you to concatenate and check for containment or overlap of data. Also, you can retrieve specific elements or slices within arrays.

:::hint{type="warning"}
Do not use array operators, including `@>`, `<@`, and `&&`, to evaluate `NULL` values in arrays. For information on how to check for `NULL` values in arrays, see [Array NULL Handling](./#array-null-handling).
:::

### Contains Operator (`@>`)

The `@>` operator determines whether a left-side array contains a scalar value or array elements on the right side.&#x20;

`@>` **Syntax**

```sql
array @> scalar_or_array
```

| **Argument**      | **Data** **Type**                                                 | **Description**                                                                                                                                                                 |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `array`           | `ARRAY`                                                           | An array column or expression.                                                                                                                                                  |
| `scalar_or_array` | `ARRAY` or any numeric, character, time, or geospatial data type. | A value or an array of values to check whether they are contained in the array. For data types, see [Understanding Data Types](<././Query Ocient/Understanding Data Types.md>). |

**Examples**

These examples use the `@>` operator to test whether the left-side array contains all the elements from the right-side array.&#x20;

**Array Containment (True Case)**

This example returns `true` because all right-side elements are in the left-side array.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT ARRAY[1, 4, 3] @> ARRAY[3, 1];
```

*Output:* `true`

**Array Containment (False Case)**

If the right-side array contains at least one value not present in the left-side array, the query returns `false`. In this example, the right-side array has one value, `5`, not present on the left side.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT ARRAY[1, 4, 3] @> ARRAY[3, 1, 5];
```

*Output:* `false`

**Scalar Containment in an Array**

This example checks whether a single scalar value is in the left-side array.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT ARRAY[3, 1, 3] @> 1;
```

*Output:* `true`

### Contained In Operator (`<@`)

The `<@` operator checks whether a right-side array contains all the elements on the left side.&#x20;

**Syntax**

```sql
scalar_or_array <@ array
```

| **Argument**      | **Data** **Type**                                                 | **Description**                                                                                                                                                                 |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `array`           | `ARRAY`                                                           | An array column or expression.                                                                                                                                                  |
| `scalar_or_array` | `ARRAY` or any numeric, character, time, or geospatial data type. | A value or an array of values to check whether they are contained in the array. For data types, see [Understanding Data Types](<././Query Ocient/Understanding Data Types.md>). |

**Examples**

**Array Contained Within Another Array (True Case)**

This example returns `true` because all left-side elements are in the right-side array.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT VARCHAR[]('apples', 'oranges') <@ VARCHAR[]('apples', 'oranges', 'bananas')
```

*Output:* `true`

**String Membership Check**

`<@` and other array operators can check whether individual strings are present in an array. The `'oranges'` string is present in the right-side array.

```sql
SELECT 'oranges' <@ VARCHAR[]('apples', 'oranges', 'bananas')
```

*Output:* `true`

### Overlap Operator (`&&`)

The overlap operator `&&` determines whether any elements between two arrays are common.&#x20;

**Syntax**

```sql
array1 && array2
```

| **Argument** | **Data** **Type** | **Description**                                                                            |
| ------------ | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `array1`     | `ARRAY`           | An array column or expression to check whether any of its values are shared with `array2`. |
| `array2`     | `ARRAY`           | An array column or expression to check whether any of its values are shared with `array1`. |

**Examples**

**Check Overlap Between Arrays (True Case)**

As long as at least one value is present in both arrays, the `&&` operator returns `true`. Both of these arrays contain the value `3`.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY[1 ,2, 3] && ARRAY[3 ,4, 5]; 
```

*Output:* `true`

**Check Overlap Between Arrays (False Case)**

Both of these arrays have no values in common, so the `&&` operator returns `false`.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT ARRAY[1 ,2, 3] && ARRAY[4 ,5, 6]; 
```

*Output:* `false`

### Slice Operator (`:`)

The slice operator `:` returns a subarray ranging from a left index to a right index, both of which are optional to specify. If you exclude both indexes, the slice operator returns the full array.

**Syntax**

```sql
array[left_index:right_index]
```

| **Argument**  | **Data** **Type** | **Description**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| ------------- | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `array`       | `ARRAY`           | An array column or expression.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| `left_index`  | `INT`             | Optional.<br /><br />A starting index for the slice operator to begin the subarray. Index values start at `1`.<br /><br />If you do not specify a left index, or if this value is less than zero, then the slice starts at index `1`.                |
| `right_index` | `INT`             | Optional. <br /><br />An ending index for the slice operator to end the subarray. Index values start at `1`.<br /><br />If you do not specify a right index or if the value exceeds the array length, the right index defaults to the array length.  |

The slice operator also follows these rules:&#x20;

- Each index starts at `1`.
- If the array or either index value is NULL, the result of slicing is NULL.
- Ranges completely out of array bounds return an empty array. For example, `array[1, 2][4:5] = []`.
- Sequential slices slice each dimension of multidimensional arrays. For example, `ARRAY[ARRAY[1, 2, 3], ARRAY[4, 5, 6]][1:1][2:3] = ARRAY[ARRAY[2,3]]`.
- More than N sequential slices of an N-dimensional array, for example, three sequential slices on a two-dimensional array return an empty array. For example, `ARRAY[1, 2, 3][:][:] = []`.
- You cannot combine slicing with the access operator when slicing multidimensional arrays. Any access operator `[n]` converts to `[:n]`. For example, `Array_Val[4][1:6]` would be equivalent to `Array_Val[:4][1:6]`.
- Slicing an array of tuples such as `ARRAY[TUPLE<<INT,INT>>(1,2), TUPLE<<INT,INT>>(3,4)][1:1][2:3]` slices `[1:1]` on the array and `[2:3]` on the tuple elements within the sliced array, and returns the value `TUPLE<<INT>>[TUPLE<<INT>>(2)]`.

**Examples**

**Basic Array Slicing**

Slice an array with four numbers starting at index `2` and ending at index `3`.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY[1 ,2, 3, 4][2:3];
```

*Output:&#x20;*`['2','3']`

**Array Slicing With No Right Index**

The query returns all values after the second value because it does not specify an ending index.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT ARRAY[1 ,2, 3, 4][2:];
```

*Output:&#x20;*`['2','3','4']`

**Array Slicing With No Left Index**

This query captures a subarray starting at the first index because it does not specify a starting value.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT ARRAY[1 ,2, 3, 4][:3];
```

*Output:&#x20;*`['1','2','3']`

## Array NULL Handling&#x20;

Filtering with array functions can have different outcomes if they operate on an array containing NULL values or a NULL value of array type.&#x20;

Array comparison operators, such as `@>`, `<@`, and `&&`, do not follow normal Boolean logic when evaluating NULL values. To evaluate arrays for NULL values, use the filter functions `FOR_ALL()` or `FOR_SOME()`. For details about these functions, see [Array Filters](<././Query Ocient/General SQL Syntax.md>).

**Examples**

**Evaluate a Single Array With No NULL Values&#x20;**

This example evaluates to `false` because none of the array values are NULL.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT FOR_SOME(ARRAY[1, 2, 3]) IS NULL;
```

*Output:&#x20;*`false`

**Evaluate a Single Array With NULL Values&#x20;**

This example evaluates to `true` because the array contains a NULL value.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT FOR_SOME(ARRAY[1, 2, NULL]) IS NULL;
```

*Output:&#x20;*`true`

**Select Only Arrays Containing NULL Values**

To further demonstrate array NULL behavior, these examples use this table loaded with a few array values, some of which are NULL or contain NULL values.

```sql
CREATE TABLE demo_array_table (
    id INT,
    tags VARCHAR[]
);

INSERT INTO demo_array_table (id, tags) VALUES
    (1, VARCHAR[]('alpha', 'beta', 'gamma')),               -- Regular array
    (2, VARCHAR[]('delta', NULL, 'epsilon')),               -- Array containing a NULL element
    (3, NULL),                                              -- Entirely NULL array
    (4, VARCHAR[]()),                                       -- Empty array
    (5, VARCHAR[](NULL, NULL));                             -- Array containing all NULL elements
```

In this example, the query uses a `FOR_SOME` function to filter the rows to return only arrays with NULL values. The output does not include the third row of the table because the row itself is NULL, and is not an array containing NULL values.&#x20;

```sql
SELECT id, tags FROM demo_array_table
    WHERE FOR_SOME(tags) IS NULL;
```

*Output*

```sql
| id | tags                             |
|----|----------------------------------|
|  2 | ['delta', NULL, 'epsilon']       |
|  5 | [NULL, NULL]                     |
```

**Select NULL Values or Arrays Containing NULL Values**

This example includes an additional filter to include any NULL rows and arrays with NULL values.&#x20;

The example uses the `demo_array_table` table, which has values that are NULL or contain NULL values.

```sql
SELECT id, tags FROM demo_array_table
    WHERE FOR_SOME(tags) IS NULL
    OR tags IS NULL;
```

*Output*

```sql
| id | tags                         |
|----|------------------------------|
|  3 | NULL                         |
|  5 | [NULL, NULL]                 |
|  2 | ['delta', NULL, 'epsilon']   |
```

**Select Arrays Without NULL Values**

This example filters the rows using the `FOR_ALL` filter function to return only arrays with no NULL values. The output also contains rows with empty arrays.&#x20;

The example uses the `demo_array_table` table, which has values that are NULL or contain NULL values.

```sql
SELECT id, tags FROM demo_array_table
    WHERE FOR_ALL(tags) IS NOT NULL;
```

*Output*

```sql
| id | tags                          |
|----|-------------------------------|
|  4 | []                            |
|  1 | ['alpha', 'beta', 'gamma']    |
```

**Select Only Non-Empty Arrays Without NULL Values**

To omit empty arrays, you can add a filter to check the array length. The `ARRAY_LENGTH` function removes any empty arrays.&#x20;

This example uses the `demo_array_table` table, which has values that are NULL or contain NULL values.

```sql
SELECT id, tags FROM demo_array_table
    WHERE FOR_ALL(tags) IS NOT NULL
    AND ARRAY_LENGTH(tags) > 0;
```

*Output*

```sql
| id | tags                          |
|----|-------------------------------|
|  1 | ['alpha', 'beta', 'gamma']    |
```

## Multidimensional arrays

Multidimensional arrays are supported. As seen in these examples, each dimension, or length, at each level does not have to be the same. NULL values are allowed at each dimension of an array.

**Multidimensional Examples**

| **Function**                                 | **SQL statement**                           | **Result**                                                               |
| -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| type constructor two-dimensional             | `int[][](int[](1, NULL), array[1])`         | two-dimensional `INT` array with values `[1, NULL]` and `[1]`            |
| constructor with no type two-dimensional     | `array[int[](1), array[int(2)]]`            | two-dimensional `INT` array with values `[1]` and `[2]`                  |
| two-dimensional array with NULL values       | `array[array[1, NULL], NULL]`               | two-dimensional `BIGINT` array with values `[1, NULL]` and `NULL`        |
| two-dimensional array with different lengths | `array[array[1], array[1,2], array[1,2,3]]` | two-dimensional `BIGINT` array with values `[1]`, `[1,2]`, and `[1,2,3]` |

## Related Links

[Matrix Functions and Operators](<./Matrix Functions and Operators.md>)

[Tuple Functions and Operators](<./Tuple Functions and Operators.md>)

[Math Functions and Operators](<./Math Functions and Operators.md>)

[Array Data Transformation Functions](<././Load Data/Transform Data in Data Pipelines.md>)&#x20;

[Data Types](<./Data Types.md>)

[Data Types for Data Pipelines](<././Load Data/Data Types for Data Pipelines.md>)&#x20;

[Query Ocient](<././Query Ocient.md>)
