Documentation Home
MySQL 8.0 Reference Manual
Related Documentation Download this Manual
PDF (US Ltr) - 43.3Mb
PDF (A4) - 43.4Mb
Man Pages (TGZ) - 297.2Kb
Man Pages (Zip) - 402.4Kb
Info (Gzip) - 4.3Mb
Info (Zip) - 4.3Mb
Excerpts from this Manual

14.16.8 Spatial Operator Functions

OpenGIS proposes a number of functions that can produce geometries. They are designed to implement spatial operators. These functions support all argument type combinations except those that are inapplicable according to theOpen Geospatial Consortium specification.

MySQL also implements certain functions that are extensions to OpenGIS, as noted in the function descriptions. In addition,Section 14.16.7, “Geometry Property Functions”, discusses several functions that construct new geometries from existing ones. See that section for descriptions of these functions:

Unless otherwise specified, functions in this section handle their geometry arguments as follows:

  • If any argument isNULL, the return value isNULL.

  • If any geometry argument is not a syntactically well-formed geometry, anER_GIS_INVALID_DATA error occurs.

  • If any geometry argument is a syntactically well-formed geometry in an undefined spatial reference system (SRS), anER_SRS_NOT_FOUND error occurs.

  • For functions that take multiple geometry arguments, if those arguments are not in the same SRS, anER_GIS_DIFFERENT_SRIDS error occurs.

  • If any geometry argument has an SRID value for a geographic SRS and the function does not handle geographic geometries, anER_NOT_IMPLEMENTED_FOR_GEOGRAPHIC_SRS error occurs.

  • For geographic SRS geometry arguments, if any argument has a longitude or latitude that is out of range, an error occurs:

    Ranges shown are in degrees. If an SRS uses another unit, the range uses the corresponding values in its unit. The exact range limits deviate slightly due to floating-point arithmetic.

  • Otherwise, the return value is non-NULL.

These spatial operator functions are available:

  • ST_Buffer(g,d [,strategy1 [,strategy2 [,strategy3]]])

    Returns a geometry that represents all points whose distance from the geometry valueg is less than or equal to a distance ofd. The result is in the same SRS as the geometry argument.

    If the geometry argument is empty,ST_Buffer() returns an empty geometry.

    If the distance is 0,ST_Buffer() returns the geometry argument unchanged:

    mysql> SET @pt = ST_GeomFromText('POINT(0 0)');mysql> SELECT ST_AsText(ST_Buffer(@pt, 0));+------------------------------+| ST_AsText(ST_Buffer(@pt, 0)) |+------------------------------+| POINT(0 0)                   |+------------------------------+

    If the geometry argument is in a Cartesian SRS:

    • ST_Buffer() supports negative distances forPolygon andMultiPolygon values, and for geometry collections containingPolygon orMultiPolygon values.

    • If the result is reduced so much that it disappears, the result is an empty geometry.

    • AnER_WRONG_ARGUMENTS error occurs forST_Buffer() with a negative distance forPoint,MultiPoint,LineString, andMultiLineString values, and for geometry collections not containing anyPolygon orMultiPolygon values.

    If the geometry argument is in a geographic SRS:

    For MySQL versions that permit geographicPoint geometries:

    • If the distance is not negative and no strategies are specified, the function returns the geographic buffer of thePoint in its SRS. The distance argument must be in the SRS distance unit (currently always meters).

    • If the distance is negative or any strategy (exceptNULL) is specified, anER_WRONG_ARGUMENTS error occurs.

    ST_Buffer() permits up to three optional strategy arguments following the distance argument. Strategies influence buffer computation. These arguments are byte string values produced by theST_Buffer_Strategy() function, to be used for point, join, and end strategies:

    Up to one strategy of each type may be specified, and they may be given in any order.

    If the buffer strategies are invalid, anER_WRONG_ARGUMENTS error occurs. Strategies are invalid under any of these circumstances:

    • Multiple strategies of a given type (point, join, or end) are specified.

    • A value that is not a strategy (such as an arbitrary binary string or a number) is passed as a strategy.

    • APoint strategy is passed and the geometry contains noPoint orMultiPoint values.

    • An end or join strategy is passed and the geometry contains noLineString,Polygon,MultiLinestring orMultiPolygon values.

    mysql> SET @pt = ST_GeomFromText('POINT(0 0)');mysql> SET @pt_strategy = ST_Buffer_Strategy('point_square');mysql> SELECT ST_AsText(ST_Buffer(@pt, 2, @pt_strategy));+--------------------------------------------+| ST_AsText(ST_Buffer(@pt, 2, @pt_strategy)) |+--------------------------------------------+| POLYGON((-2 -2,2 -2,2 2,-2 2,-2 -2))       |+--------------------------------------------+
    mysql> SET @ls = ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(0 0,0 5,5 5)');mysql> SET @end_strategy = ST_Buffer_Strategy('end_flat');mysql> SET @join_strategy = ST_Buffer_Strategy('join_round', 10);mysql> SELECT ST_AsText(ST_Buffer(@ls, 5, @end_strategy, @join_strategy))+---------------------------------------------------------------+| ST_AsText(ST_Buffer(@ls, 5, @end_strategy, @join_strategy))   |+---------------------------------------------------------------+| POLYGON((5 5,5 10,0 10,-3.5355339059327373 8.535533905932738, || -5 5,-5 0,0 0,5 0,5 5))                                       |+---------------------------------------------------------------+

  • ST_Buffer_Strategy(strategy [,points_per_circle])

    This function returns a strategy byte string for use withST_Buffer() to influence buffer computation.

    Information about strategies is available atBoost.org.

    The first argument must be a string indicating a strategy option:

    • For point strategies, permitted values are'point_circle' and'point_square'.

    • For join strategies, permitted values are'join_round' and'join_miter'.

    • For end strategies, permitted values are'end_round' and'end_flat'.

    If the first argument is'point_circle','join_round','join_miter', or'end_round', thepoints_per_circle argument must be given as a positive numeric value. The maximumpoints_per_circle value is the value of themax_points_in_geometry system variable.

    For examples, see the description ofST_Buffer().

    ST_Buffer_Strategy() handles its arguments as described in the introduction to this section, with these exceptions:

    • If any argument is invalid, anER_WRONG_ARGUMENTS error occurs.

    • If the first argument is'point_square' or'end_flat', thepoints_per_circle argument must not be given or anER_WRONG_ARGUMENTS error occurs.

  • ST_ConvexHull(g)

    Returns a geometry that represents the convex hull of the geometry valueg.

    This function computes a geometry's convex hull by first checking whether its vertex points are colinear. The function returns a linear hull if so, a polygon hull otherwise. This function processes geometry collections by extracting all vertex points of all components of the collection, creating aMultiPoint value from them, and computing its convex hull.

    ST_ConvexHull() handles its arguments as described in the introduction to this section, with this exception:

    • The return value isNULL for the additional condition that the argument is an empty geometry collection.

    mysql> SET @g = 'MULTIPOINT(5 0,25 0,15 10,15 25)';mysql> SELECT ST_AsText(ST_ConvexHull(ST_GeomFromText(@g)));+-----------------------------------------------+| ST_AsText(ST_ConvexHull(ST_GeomFromText(@g))) |+-----------------------------------------------+| POLYGON((5 0,25 0,15 25,5 0))                 |+-----------------------------------------------+

  • ST_Difference(g1,g2)

    Returns a geometry that represents the point set difference of the geometry valuesg1 andg2. The result is in the same SRS as the geometry arguments.

    As of MySQL 8.0.26,ST_Difference() permits arguments in either a Cartesian or a geographic SRS. Prior to MySQL 8.0.26,ST_Difference() permits arguments in a Cartesian SRS only; for arguments in a geographic SRS, anER_NOT_IMPLEMENTED_FOR_GEOGRAPHIC_SRS error occurs.

    ST_Difference() handles its arguments as described in the introduction to this section.

    mysql> SET @g1 = Point(1,1), @g2 = Point(2,2);mysql> SELECT ST_AsText(ST_Difference(@g1, @g2));+------------------------------------+| ST_AsText(ST_Difference(@g1, @g2)) |+------------------------------------+| POINT(1 1)                         |+------------------------------------+

  • ST_Intersection(g1,g2)

    Returns a geometry that represents the point set intersection of the geometry valuesg1 andg2. The result is in the same SRS as the geometry arguments.

    As of MySQL 8.0.27,ST_Intersection() permits arguments in either a Cartesian or a geographic SRS. Prior to MySQL 8.0.27,ST_Intersection() permits arguments in a Cartesian SRS only; for arguments in a geographic SRS, anER_NOT_IMPLEMENTED_FOR_GEOGRAPHIC_SRS error occurs.

    ST_Intersection() handles its arguments as described in the introduction to this section.

    mysql> SET @g1 = ST_GeomFromText('LineString(1 1, 3 3)');mysql> SET @g2 = ST_GeomFromText('LineString(1 3, 3 1)');mysql> SELECT ST_AsText(ST_Intersection(@g1, @g2));+--------------------------------------+| ST_AsText(ST_Intersection(@g1, @g2)) |+--------------------------------------+| POINT(2 2)                           |+--------------------------------------+

  • ST_LineInterpolatePoint(ls,fractional_distance)

    This function takes aLineString geometry and a fractional distance in the range [0.0, 1.0] and returns thePoint along theLineString at the given fraction of the distance from its start point to its endpoint. It can be used to answer questions such as whichPoint lies halfway along the road described by the geometry argument.

    The function is implemented forLineString geometries in all spatial reference systems, both Cartesian and geographic.

    If thefractional_distance argument is 1.0, the result may not be exactly the last point of theLineString argument but a point close to it due to numerical inaccuracies in approximate-value computations.

    A related function,ST_LineInterpolatePoints(), takes similar arguments but returns aMultiPoint consisting ofPoint values along theLineString at each fraction of the distance from its start point to its endpoint. For examples of both functions, see theST_LineInterpolatePoints() description.

    ST_LineInterpolatePoint() handles its arguments as described in the introduction to this section, with these exceptions:

    ST_LineInterpolatePoint() is a MySQL extension to OpenGIS. This function was added in MySQL 8.0.24.

  • ST_LineInterpolatePoints(ls,fractional_distance)

    This function takes aLineString geometry and a fractional distance in the range (0.0, 1.0] and returns theMultiPoint consisting of theLineString start point, plusPoint values along theLineString at each fraction of the distance from its start point to its endpoint. It can be used to answer questions such as whichPoint values lie every 10% of the way along the road described by the geometry argument.

    The function is implemented forLineString geometries in all spatial reference systems, both Cartesian and geographic.

    If thefractional_distance argument divides 1.0 with zero remainder the result may not contain the last point of theLineString argument but a point close to it due to numerical inaccuracies in approximate-value computations.

    A related function,ST_LineInterpolatePoint(), takes similar arguments but returns thePoint along theLineString at the given fraction of the distance from its start point to its endpoint.

    ST_LineInterpolatePoints() handles its arguments as described in the introduction to this section, with these exceptions:

    mysql> SET @ls1 = ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(0 0,0 5,5 5)');mysql> SELECT ST_AsText(ST_LineInterpolatePoint(@ls1, .5));+----------------------------------------------+| ST_AsText(ST_LineInterpolatePoint(@ls1, .5)) |+----------------------------------------------+| POINT(0 5)                                   |+----------------------------------------------+mysql> SELECT ST_AsText(ST_LineInterpolatePoint(@ls1, .75));+-----------------------------------------------+| ST_AsText(ST_LineInterpolatePoint(@ls1, .75)) |+-----------------------------------------------+| POINT(2.5 5)                                  |+-----------------------------------------------+mysql> SELECT ST_AsText(ST_LineInterpolatePoint(@ls1, 1));+---------------------------------------------+| ST_AsText(ST_LineInterpolatePoint(@ls1, 1)) |+---------------------------------------------+| POINT(5 5)                                  |+---------------------------------------------+mysql> SELECT ST_AsText(ST_LineInterpolatePoints(@ls1, .25));+------------------------------------------------+| ST_AsText(ST_LineInterpolatePoints(@ls1, .25)) |+------------------------------------------------+| MULTIPOINT((0 2.5),(0 5),(2.5 5),(5 5))        |+------------------------------------------------+

    ST_LineInterpolatePoints() is a MySQL extension to OpenGIS. This function was added in MySQL 8.0.24.

  • ST_PointAtDistance(ls,distance)

    This function takes aLineString geometry and a distance in the range [0.0,ST_Length(ls)] measured in the unit of the spatial reference system (SRS) of theLineString, and returns thePoint along theLineString at that distance from its start point. It can be used to answer questions such as whichPoint value is 400 meters from the start of the road described by the geometry argument.

    The function is implemented forLineString geometries in all spatial reference systems, both Cartesian and geographic.

    ST_PointAtDistance() handles its arguments as described in the introduction to this section, with these exceptions:

    ST_PointAtDistance() is a MySQL extension to OpenGIS. This function was added in MySQL 8.0.24.

  • ST_SymDifference(g1,g2)

    Returns a geometry that represents the point set symmetric difference of the geometry valuesg1 andg2, which is defined as:

    g1 symdifferenceg2 := (g1 uniong2) difference (g1 intersectiong2)

    Or, in function call notation:

    ST_SymDifference(g1,g2) = ST_Difference(ST_Union(g1,g2), ST_Intersection(g1,g2))

    The result is in the same SRS as the geometry arguments.

    As of MySQL 8.0.27,ST_SymDifference() permits arguments in either a Cartesian or a geographic SRS. Prior to MySQL 8.0.27,ST_SymDifference() permits arguments in a Cartesian SRS only; for arguments in a geographic SRS, anER_NOT_IMPLEMENTED_FOR_GEOGRAPHIC_SRS error occurs.

    ST_SymDifference() handles its arguments as described in the introduction to this section.

    mysql> SET @g1 = ST_GeomFromText('MULTIPOINT(5 0,15 10,15 25)');mysql> SET @g2 = ST_GeomFromText('MULTIPOINT(1 1,15 10,15 25)');mysql> SELECT ST_AsText(ST_SymDifference(@g1, @g2));+---------------------------------------+| ST_AsText(ST_SymDifference(@g1, @g2)) |+---------------------------------------+| MULTIPOINT((1 1),(5 0))               |+---------------------------------------+

  • ST_Transform(g,target_srid)

    Transforms a geometry from one spatial reference system (SRS) to another. The return value is a geometry of the same type as the input geometry with all coordinates transformed to the target SRID,target_srid. Prior to MySQL 8.0.30, transformation support was limited to geographic SRSs (unless the SRID of the geometry argument was the same as the target SRID value, in which case the return value was the input geometry for any valid SRS), and this function did not support Cartesian SRSs. Beginning with MySQL 8.0.30, support is provided for the Popular Visualisation Pseudo Mercator (EPSG 1024) projection method, used for WGS 84 Pseudo-Mercator (SRID 3857). In MySQL 8.0.32 and later, support is extended to all SRSs defined by EPSG except for those listed here:

    • EPSG 1042 Krovak Modified

    • EPSG 1043 Krovak Modified (North Orientated)

    • EPSG 9816 Tunisia Mining Grid

    • EPSG 9826 Lambert Conic Conformal (West Orientated)

    ST_Transform() handles its arguments as described in the introduction to this section, with these exceptions:

    ST_SRID(g,target_srid) andST_Transform(g,target_srid) differ as follows:

    • ST_SRID() changes the geometry SRID value without transforming its coordinates.

    • ST_Transform() transforms the geometry coordinates in addition to changing its SRID value.

    mysql> SET @p = ST_GeomFromText('POINT(52.381389 13.064444)', 4326);mysql> SELECT ST_AsText(@p);+----------------------------+| ST_AsText(@p)              |+----------------------------+| POINT(52.381389 13.064444) |+----------------------------+mysql> SET @p = ST_Transform(@p, 4230);mysql> SELECT ST_AsText(@p);+---------------------------------------------+| ST_AsText(@p)                               |+---------------------------------------------+| POINT(52.38208611407426 13.065520672345304) |+---------------------------------------------+

  • ST_Union(g1,g2)

    Returns a geometry that represents the point set union of the geometry valuesg1 andg2. The result is in the same SRS as the geometry arguments.

    As of MySQL 8.0.26,ST_Union() permits arguments in either a Cartesian or a geographic SRS. Prior to MySQL 8.0.26,ST_Union() permits arguments in a Cartesian SRS only; for arguments in a geographic SRS, anER_NOT_IMPLEMENTED_FOR_GEOGRAPHIC_SRS error occurs.

    ST_Union() handles its arguments as described in the introduction to this section.

    mysql> SET @g1 = ST_GeomFromText('LineString(1 1, 3 3)');mysql> SET @g2 = ST_GeomFromText('LineString(1 3, 3 1)');mysql> SELECT ST_AsText(ST_Union(@g1, @g2));+--------------------------------------+| ST_AsText(ST_Union(@g1, @g2))        |+--------------------------------------+| MULTILINESTRING((1 1,3 3),(1 3,3 1)) |+--------------------------------------+