--- title: Scalar functions description: Reference for the scalar functions supported in R2 SQL, organized by category. image: https://developers.cloudflare.com/dev-products-preview.png --- > Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developers.cloudflare.com/r2-sql/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. [Skip to content](#%5Ftop) # Scalar functions Scalar functions transform individual values and can be used in `SELECT`, `WHERE`, `GROUP BY`, `HAVING`, and `ORDER BY` clauses. --- ## Core functions ### arrow\_cast Casts an expression to a specific Arrow data type by string name. ``` SELECT arrow_cast(total_amount, 'Float32') AS amount_f32FROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount IS NOT NULLLIMIT 1 ``` ### arrow\_typeof Returns the Arrow data type name of an expression. ``` SELECT arrow_typeof(total_amount) AS amount_type, arrow_typeof(customer_id) AS id_typeFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### coalesce Returns the first non-NULL argument. ``` SELECT coalesce(department, region, 'unknown') AS first_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### get\_field Extracts a field from a struct by name. ``` SELECT get_field(named_struct('customer', customer_id, 'amount', total_amount), 'amount') AS amtFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount IS NOT NULLLIMIT 1 ``` ### greatest Returns the largest value from a list of arguments. ``` SELECT greatest(total_amount, unit_price, quantity) AS max_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### least Returns the smallest value from a list of arguments. ``` SELECT least(total_amount, unit_price, quantity) AS min_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### named\_struct Creates a struct with named fields from key-value pairs. ``` SELECT named_struct('customer', customer_id, 'amount', total_amount) AS infoFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount IS NOT NULLLIMIT 1 ``` ### nullif Returns NULL if both arguments are equal, otherwise returns the first argument. ``` SELECT nullif(department, 'Unknown') AS deptFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### nvl Returns the second argument if the first is NULL. Alias: `ifnull`. ``` SELECT nvl(department, 'N/A') AS deptFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### nvl2 Returns the second argument if the first is not NULL, otherwise returns the third. ``` SELECT nvl2(department, 'has_dept', 'no_dept') AS dept_statusFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### overlay Replaces a substring at a given position. ``` SELECT customer_id, overlay(customer_id PLACING 'XX' FROM 1 FOR 2) AS maskedFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 3 ``` ### struct Creates a struct with positional fields. Alias: `row`. ``` SELECT struct(customer_id, total_amount, region) AS infoFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount IS NOT NULLLIMIT 1 ``` --- ## Crypto functions ### digest Returns a hash of a string using a specified algorithm. Supported algorithms: `md5`, `sha224`, `sha256`, `sha384`, `sha512`. ``` SELECT customer_id, digest(customer_id, 'sha256') AS hashFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### md5 Returns the MD5 hash of a string. ``` SELECT customer_id, md5(customer_id) AS hashFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### sha224 Returns the SHA-224 hash of a string. ``` SELECT sha224(customer_id) AS hashFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### sha256 Returns the SHA-256 hash of a string. ``` SELECT customer_id, sha256(customer_id) AS hashFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### sha384 Returns the SHA-384 hash of a string. ``` SELECT sha384(customer_id) AS hashFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### sha512 Returns the SHA-512 hash of a string. ``` SELECT sha512(customer_id) AS hashFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` --- ## Datetime functions ### current\_date Returns today's date. Alias: `today`. ``` SELECT current_date() AS today_dateFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### current\_time Returns the current time. Precision is quantized to 10ms boundaries. ``` SELECT current_time() AS now_timeFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### date\_bin Bins a timestamp into fixed-size intervals aligned to an origin. ``` SELECT date_bin(INTERVAL '1 hour', timestamp, '2025-01-01T00:00:00Z') AS hour_bin, COUNT(*) AS cntFROM my_namespace.sales_dataGROUP BY date_bin(INTERVAL '1 hour', timestamp, '2025-01-01T00:00:00Z')ORDER BY hour_binLIMIT 5 ``` ### date\_part Extracts a component from a timestamp. Alias: `datepart`. Supported fields: `year`, `month`, `day`, `hour`, `minute`, `second`, `millisecond`, `microsecond`, `week`, `dow`, `doy`, `quarter`, `epoch`. ``` SELECT date_part('hour', timestamp) AS hr, date_part('minute', timestamp) AS mnFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### date\_trunc Truncates a timestamp to a specified unit. Alias: `datetrunc`. Supported units: `year`, `month`, `week`, `day`, `hour`, `minute`, `second`. ``` SELECT date_trunc('day', timestamp) AS day_trunc, COUNT(*) AS cntFROM my_namespace.sales_dataGROUP BY date_trunc('day', timestamp)ORDER BY day_truncLIMIT 5 ``` ### from\_unixtime Converts a Unix epoch (seconds) to a timestamp. ``` SELECT from_unixtime(1770000000) AS tsFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### make\_date Constructs a date from year, month, and day components. ``` SELECT make_date(2026, 3, 1) AS dFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### make\_time Constructs a time from hour, minute, and second components. ``` SELECT make_time(14, 30, 0) AS tFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### now Returns the current timestamp. Aliases: `current_timestamp`. Precision is quantized to 10ms boundaries. ``` SELECT now() AS current_tsFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### to\_char Formats a timestamp as a string using strftime format. Alias: `date_format`. ``` SELECT to_char(timestamp, '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M') AS formattedFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### to\_date Parses a date from a string using a format pattern. ``` SELECT to_date('2026-03-01', '%Y-%m-%d') AS dFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### to\_local\_time Strips timezone information from a timestamp. ``` SELECT to_local_time(timestamp) AS local_tsFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### to\_time Parses a time from a string using a format pattern. ``` SELECT to_time('14:30:00', '%H:%M:%S') AS tFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### to\_timestamp Parses a timestamp from a string using a format pattern. ``` SELECT to_timestamp('2026-03-01 12:00:00', '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S') AS tsFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### to\_timestamp\_micros Converts microseconds since Unix epoch to a timestamp. ``` SELECT to_timestamp_micros(1770000000000000) AS tsFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### to\_timestamp\_millis Converts milliseconds since Unix epoch to a timestamp. ``` SELECT to_timestamp_millis(1770000000000) AS tsFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### to\_timestamp\_nanos Converts nanoseconds since Unix epoch to a timestamp. Large values may overflow. ``` SELECT to_timestamp_nanos(1770000000000000000) AS tsFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### to\_timestamp\_seconds Converts seconds since Unix epoch to a timestamp. ``` SELECT to_timestamp_seconds(1770000000) AS tsFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### to\_unixtime Converts a timestamp to a Unix epoch (seconds). ``` SELECT to_unixtime(timestamp) AS epochFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` --- ## Encoding functions ### decode Decodes a string to binary data. Supported encoding: `base64`. ``` SELECT decode('aGVsbG8=', 'base64') AS rawFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### encode Encodes binary data to a string. Supported encoding: `base64`. ``` SELECT encode(CAST('hello' AS BYTEA), 'base64') AS b64FROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` --- ## JSON functions ### json\_as\_text Returns any JSON value as unquoted text. ``` SELECT json_as_text(doc, 'description') AS descriptionFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### json\_contains Returns true if the specified key path exists in the JSON. ``` SELECT customer_id, json_contains(doc, 'email') AS has_emailFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### json\_get Extracts a value by key path. Returns a union type — use the typed variants (`json_get_str`, `json_get_int`, etc.) for predictable results. ``` SELECT json_get(doc, 'name') AS nameFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### json\_get\_array Returns a JSON array as a list of strings. ``` SELECT json_get_array(doc, 'tags') AS tagsFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### json\_get\_bool Returns a boolean value from a JSON column by key path. ``` SELECT json_get_bool(doc, 'active') AS is_activeFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### json\_get\_float Returns a float value from a JSON column by key path. ``` SELECT json_get_float(doc, 'price') AS priceFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### json\_get\_int Returns an integer value from a JSON column by key path. ``` SELECT json_get_int(doc, 'age') AS ageFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### json\_get\_json Returns nested JSON as a raw JSON string. ``` SELECT json_get_json(doc, 'metadata') AS metadataFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### json\_get\_str Returns a string value from a JSON column by key path. ``` SELECT json_get_str(doc, 'name') AS nameFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### json\_length Returns the length of a JSON array or object. ``` SELECT json_length(doc, 'items') AS item_countFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` --- ## Math functions ### abs Returns the absolute value of a number. ``` SELECT abs(total_amount - 500) AS distance_from_500FROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### cbrt Returns the cube root of a number. ``` SELECT cbrt(CAST(quantity AS DOUBLE)) AS cbrt_qtyFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE quantity IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### ceil Returns the smallest integer greater than or equal to a number. ``` SELECT ceil(total_amount) AS rounded_upFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### degrees Converts radians to degrees. ``` SELECT degrees(pi()) AS full_circleFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### exp Returns _e_ raised to the given power. ``` SELECT exp(total_amount / 1000.0) AS exp_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### factorial Returns the factorial of a non-negative integer. ``` SELECT factorial(5) AS fact5FROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### floor Returns the largest integer less than or equal to a number. ``` SELECT floor(total_amount) AS rounded_downFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### gcd Returns the greatest common divisor of two integers. ``` SELECT gcd(12, 8) AS gcd_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### Hyperbolic functions `sinh`, `cosh`, `tanh`, `asinh`, `acosh`, `atanh` ``` SELECT sinh(1.0) AS sh, cosh(1.0) AS ch, tanh(1.0) AS thFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### isnan Returns true if the value is NaN. ``` SELECT isnan(0.0 / 0.0) AS is_nanFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### iszero Returns true if the value is zero. ``` SELECT iszero(0.0) AS is_zeroFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### lcm Returns the least common multiple of two integers. ``` SELECT lcm(4, 6) AS lcm_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### ln Returns the natural logarithm. ``` SELECT ln(total_amount) AS ln_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount > 0LIMIT 5 ``` ### log Returns the logarithm of a value for a given base. ``` SELECT log(10.0, total_amount) AS log10_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount > 0LIMIT 5 ``` ### log2 Returns the base-2 logarithm. ``` SELECT log2(total_amount) AS log2_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount > 0LIMIT 5 ``` ### log10 Returns the base-10 logarithm. ``` SELECT log10(total_amount) AS log10_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount > 0LIMIT 5 ``` ### nanvl Returns the first argument if it is not NaN, otherwise returns the second. ``` SELECT nanvl(0.0 / 0.0, -1.0) AS safe_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### pi Returns the value of pi. ``` SELECT pi() AS pi_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### power Raises a number to a power. Alias: `pow`. ``` SELECT power(total_amount, 2.0) AS amount_squaredFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### radians Converts degrees to radians. ``` SELECT radians(180.0) AS pi_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### random Returns a random float between 0 and 1. ``` SELECT random() AS rndFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### round Rounds a number to a specified number of decimal places. ``` SELECT round(total_amount, 2) AS roundedFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### signum Returns the sign of a number: -1, 0, or 1. ``` SELECT signum(total_amount - 500) AS sign_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### sqrt Returns the square root of a number. ``` SELECT sqrt(CAST(quantity AS DOUBLE)) AS sqrt_qtyFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE quantity IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### Trigonometric functions `sin`, `cos`, `tan`, `asin`, `acos`, `atan`, `atan2`, `cot` ``` SELECT sin(1.0) AS s, cos(1.0) AS c, tan(1.0) AS t, asin(0.5) AS as_val, acos(0.5) AS ac_val, atan(1.0) AS at_valFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### trunc Truncates a number to a specified number of decimal places. ``` SELECT trunc(total_amount, 0) AS truncatedFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE total_amount IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` --- ## Regex functions ### regexp\_count Returns the number of matches of a pattern in a string. ``` SELECT department, regexp_count(department, '[aeiou]') AS vowelsFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### regexp\_instr Returns the position of the first match of a pattern. ``` SELECT department, regexp_instr(department, '[0-9]') AS digit_posFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### regexp\_like Returns true if a string matches a regular expression pattern. ``` SELECT department, regexp_like(department, '^[A-Z]{2}') AS starts_two_capsFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### regexp\_match Returns the first match of a pattern as an array. ``` SELECT department, regexp_match(department, '([A-Z][a-z]+)') AS first_wordFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 3 ``` ### regexp\_replace Replaces matches of a pattern with a replacement string. ``` SELECT department, regexp_replace(department, '[0-9]', '#') AS no_digitsFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` --- ## String functions ### ascii Returns the ASCII code of the first character. ``` SELECT customer_id, ascii(customer_id) AS first_codeFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 3 ``` ### bit\_length Returns the length of a string in bits. ``` SELECT customer_id, bit_length(customer_id) AS bitsFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 3 ``` ### btrim Trims characters from both sides of a string. Alias: `trim`. ``` SELECT btrim(' hello ') AS trimmedFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### chr Returns the character for a given ASCII code. ``` SELECT chr(65) AS letterFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### concat Concatenates two or more strings. ``` SELECT concat(department, ' - ', region) AS labelFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### concat\_ws Concatenates strings with a separator. ``` SELECT concat_ws('/', region, department) AS pathFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### contains Returns true if a string contains a substring. ``` SELECT customer_id, contains(department, 'Sales') AS is_salesFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### ends\_with Returns true if a string ends with a suffix. ``` SELECT customer_id, ends_with(department, 'ing') AS ends_ingFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### levenshtein Returns the Levenshtein edit distance between two strings. ``` SELECT department, levenshtein(department, 'Engineering') AS distFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### lower Converts a string to lowercase. ``` SELECT lower(department) AS dept_lowerFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### ltrim Trims characters from the left side of a string. ``` SELECT ltrim(' hello') AS trimmedFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### octet\_length Returns the length of a string in bytes. ``` SELECT customer_id, octet_length(customer_id) AS bytesFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 3 ``` ### repeat Repeats a string a given number of times. ``` SELECT repeat(region, 2) AS doubledFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 3 ``` ### replace Replaces all occurrences of a substring. ``` SELECT department, replace(department, ' ', '_') AS underscoredFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### rtrim Trims characters from the right side of a string. ``` SELECT rtrim('hello ') AS trimmedFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### split\_part Splits a string by a delimiter and returns the specified part (1-indexed). ``` SELECT customer_id, split_part(customer_id, '-', 1) AS first_partFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE customer_id IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### starts\_with Returns true if a string starts with a prefix. ``` SELECT customer_id, starts_with(department, 'Eng') AS is_engFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### to\_hex Converts an integer to a hexadecimal string. ``` SELECT to_hex(255) AS hex_ffFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### upper Converts a string to uppercase. ``` SELECT upper(region) AS region_upperFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### uuid Generates a random UUID. ``` SELECT uuid() AS new_idFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` --- ## Unicode functions ### character\_length Returns the number of characters in a string. Aliases: `length`, `char_length`. ``` SELECT department, character_length(department) AS lenFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### find\_in\_set Returns the position of a string within a comma-separated list. ``` SELECT find_in_set('North', 'South,North,East,West') AS posFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### initcap Capitalizes the first letter of each word. ``` SELECT initcap('hello world') AS cappedFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 1 ``` ### left Returns the leftmost _n_ characters of a string. ``` SELECT department, left(department, 5) AS prefixFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### lpad Left-pads a string to a specified length. ``` SELECT region, lpad(region, 15, '.') AS paddedFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### reverse Reverses a string. ``` SELECT department, reverse(department) AS revFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### right Returns the rightmost _n_ characters of a string. ``` SELECT department, right(department, 3) AS suffixFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### rpad Right-pads a string to a specified length. ``` SELECT region, rpad(region, 15, '.') AS paddedFROM my_namespace.sales_dataLIMIT 5 ``` ### strpos Returns the position of a substring (1-indexed). Aliases: `instr`, `position`. ``` SELECT department, strpos(department, 'a') AS a_posFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### substr Returns a substring starting at a position for a given length. Alias: `substring`. ``` SELECT department, substr(department, 1, 8) AS first_eightFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### substr\_index Returns the substring before the _n_\-th occurrence of a delimiter. Alias: `substring_index`. ``` SELECT customer_id, substr_index(customer_id, '-', 1) AS first_segmentFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE customer_id IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ### translate Replaces characters in a string based on a mapping. ``` SELECT department, translate(department, 'aeiou', '12345') AS codedFROM my_namespace.sales_dataWHERE department IS NOT NULLLIMIT 5 ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TechArticle","@id":"https://developers.cloudflare.com/r2-sql/sql-reference/scalar-functions/#page","headline":"Scalar functions · R2 SQL docs","description":"Reference for the scalar functions supported in R2 SQL, organized by category.","url":"https://developers.cloudflare.com/r2-sql/sql-reference/scalar-functions/","inLanguage":"en","image":"https://developers.cloudflare.com/dev-products-preview.png","dateModified":"2026-06-22","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Cloudflare","url":"https://www.cloudflare.com/"},"isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://developers.cloudflare.com/#website","name":"Cloudflare Docs","url":"https://developers.cloudflare.com/"},"keywords":["SQL"]} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/directory/","name":"Directory"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/r2-sql/","name":"R2 SQL"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"/r2-sql/sql-reference/","name":"SQL reference"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@id":"/r2-sql/sql-reference/scalar-functions/","name":"Scalar functions"}}]} ```