SORT_ARRAY

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Syntax

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Scalar

sort_array(array [, ascending])

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Arguments

• T is the array element type: BOOLEAN, TINYINT, SMALLINT, INTEGER, BIGINT, FLOAT, DOUBLE, DECIMAL(p, s), STRING, BINARY, DATE, TIME, TIMESTAMP, ARRAY or STRUCT.

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Returns

• Type: ARRAY<T>
• Possible values: Sorted elements.
• NULL behavior: NULL array or NULL flag returns NULL.
• Shape: Same element count/type.
• Ordering: Ascending NULLs first, or descending NULLs last.

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Properties

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Usage notes

• Floating-point sorting distinguishes positive and negative zero and different NaN values. STRING and BINARY values use lexicographic order. Nested arrays and structs are sorted by their elements or fields.
• INTEGER and INT mean the same type; STRING means VARCHAR text. NULL can be used with a supported type. Cast NULL explicitly when its type would otherwise be unclear.

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Examples

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Typical behavior

SELECT sort_array(ARRAY[3, NULL, 1], TRUE) AS ascending, sort_array(ARRAY[3, NULL, 1], FALSE) AS descending;

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Sort strings with a NULL element

SELECT sort_array(ARRAY('pear', CAST(NULL AS VARCHAR), 'apple')) AS sorted_values;

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Limitations

• ascending must be BOOLEAN literal; elements must support sorting.
• Elements must have comparable types. The relative order of equal values is not guaranteed.
• MAP elements, including MAP values nested inside compared elements, are outside the supported element types.