TYPEOF

​

Syntax

​

Scalar

typeof(value)

​

Arguments

​

Returns

• Type: STRING
• Possible values: A lowercased SQL/DDL-style type description.
• NULL behavior: A typed NULL reports its declared type. An untyped NULL reports void.

​

Properties

​

Usage notes

• The result depends on the declared argument type, not its row value. Nested arrays/maps/structs are rendered recursively.
• VARIANT storage is recognized before ordinary structs.
• 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.
• Deterministic: The same inputs and settings produce the same result.

​

Examples

​

Typical behavior

SELECT typeof(CAST(1 AS BIGINT)) AS "value", typeof(CAST(NULL AS BIGINT)) AS typed_null;

​

Inspect concrete input types

SELECT typeof(CAST(7 AS BIGINT)) AS integer_type, typeof(ARRAY('red', 'blue')) AS array_type;

​

Limitations

• DECIMAL types currently raise an error. This also applies to DECIMAL values nested inside ARRAY, MAP, or STRUCT.
• Some less common types return descriptive names that cannot be used directly in a SQL type declaration.
• DECIMAL input currently raises an execution error; cast it to an explicitly chosen nondecimal type before calling TYPEOF.

​

Related functions

• cast