Struct

Use the struct data type to create a column that contains nested columns. The nested columns can be of different data types, including the struct type.

Define a struct type

Syntax: STRUCT< >

Struct types are declared using the angle brackets (< and >).

Examples

The statement below creates a table x that contains struct a, which contains two nested columns (b and c) that are both integers.

CREATE TABLE x (a STRUCT <b INTEGER, c INTEGER>, d INTEGER);

The statement below creates a table y that contains struct a, which contains another struct c.

CREATE TABLE y (a STRUCT <b STRUCT<c INTEGER>, d INTEGER>, e VARCHAR);

Below is a real world example.

CREATE TABLE trip (
        id VARCHAR,
        started_at TIMESTAMP,
        completed_at TIMESTAMP,
        distance DOUBLE PRECISION,
        fare STRUCT <
            initial_charge DOUBLE PRECISION,
            subsequent_charge DOUBLE PRECISION,
            surcharge DOUBLE PRECISION,
            tolls DOUBLE PRECISION 
            > 
        );

Add values to a struct

To add values to structs, enclose the nested data with () in the SQL statement. For example, (1, true). Alternatively, you can also use ROW(1, true).

Examples

The statement below adds values to table x.

INSERT INTO x VALUES (ROW(3, 4), 5);

The statement below adds values to table y.

INSERT INTO y VALUES (ROW(ROW(6), 7), 8);

The statement below adds values to table trip.

INSERT INTO trip VALUES 
        (
            '1234ABCD', 
            '2022-07-28 11:04:05', 
            '2022-07-28 11:15:22', 
            6.1, 
            ROW(1.0, 4.0, 1.5, 2.0)
        );

Retrieve data in a struct

To retrieve data in a struct, enclose the struct name with () and use the dot operator to specify the nested column. For example, to access the initial_charge column under fare in the trip schema, use (fare).initial_charge.

Examples

SELECT (a).b, d
FROM x;

SELECT ((a).b).c, e
FROM y;

SELECT id, (fare).initial_charge 
FROM trip;

Casting

Structs can be casted explicitly or implicitly to structs if the nested expressions and types can be casted.

Examples

SELECT (1, (2, 3))::STRUCT<i BIGINT, j STRUCT<a BIGINT, b VARCHAR>>;
-----Result
(1,(2,3))

SELECT ROW(1, ROW('1', 1)) = ROW('1', ROW(1, '1'));
-----
t