Conversion functions

GoogleSQL for Bigtable supports conversion functions. These data typeconversions are explicit, but some conversions can happen implicitly. You canlearn more about implicit and explicit conversionhere.

Function list

Name	Summary
`ARRAY_TO_STRING`	Produces a concatenation of the elements in an array as a`STRING` value. For more information, seeArray functions.
`CAST`	Convert the results of an expression to the given type.
`CHR`	Converts a Unicode code point to a character. For more information, seeString functions.
`CODE_POINTS_TO_BYTES`	Converts an array of extended ASCII code points to a`BYTES` value. For more information, seeString aggregate functions.
`CODE_POINTS_TO_STRING`	Converts an array of extended ASCII code points to a`STRING` value. For more information, seeString aggregate functions.
`DATE_FROM_UNIX_DATE`	Interprets an`INT64` expression as the number of days since 1970-01-01. For more information, seeDate functions.
`FROM_BASE32`	Converts a base32-encoded`STRING` value into a`BYTES` value. For more information, seeString functions.
`FROM_BASE64`	Converts a base64-encoded`STRING` value into a`BYTES` value. For more information, seeString functions.
`FROM_HEX`	Converts a hexadecimal-encoded`STRING` value into a`BYTES` value. For more information, seeString functions.
`PARSE_DATE`	Converts a`STRING` value to a`DATE` value. For more information, seeDate functions.
`PARSE_TIMESTAMP`	Converts a`STRING` value to a`TIMESTAMP` value. For more information, seeTimestamp functions.
`SAFE_CAST`	Similar to the`CAST` function, but returns`NULL` when a runtime error is produced.
`SAFE_CONVERT_BYTES_TO_STRING`	Converts a`BYTES` value to a`STRING` value and replace any invalid UTF-8 characters with the Unicode replacement character,`U+FFFD`. For more information, seeString functions.
`STRING` (Timestamp)	Converts a`TIMESTAMP` value to a`STRING` value. For more information, seeTimestamp functions.
`TIMESTAMP_MICROS`	Converts the number of microseconds since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC to a`TIMESTAMP`. For more information, seeTimestamp functions.
`TIMESTAMP_MILLIS`	Converts the number of milliseconds since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC to a`TIMESTAMP`. For more information, seeTimestamp functions.
`TIMESTAMP_SECONDS`	Converts the number of seconds since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC to a`TIMESTAMP`. For more information, seeTimestamp functions.
`TO_BASE32`	Converts a`BYTES` value to a base32-encoded`STRING` value. For more information, seeString functions.
`TO_BASE64`	Converts a`BYTES` value to a base64-encoded`STRING` value. For more information, seeString functions.
`TO_CODE_POINTS`	Converts a`STRING` or`BYTES` value into an array of extended ASCII code points. For more information, seeString functions.
`TO_FLOAT32`	Converts the big-endian bytes of a 32-bit IEEE 754 floating point number into a`FLOAT32` value. For more information, seeString functions.
`TO_FLOAT64`	Converts the big-endian bytes of a 64-bit IEEE 754 floating point number into a`FLOAT64` value. For more information, seeString functions.
`TO_HEX`	Converts a`BYTES` value to a hexadecimal`STRING` value. For more information, seeString functions.
`TO_INT64`	Converts the big-endian bytes of a 64-bit signed integer into an`INT64` value. For more information, seeString functions.
`TO_JSON_STRING`	Converts a SQL value to a JSON-formatted`STRING` value. For more information, seeJSON functions.
`TO_VECTOR32`	Converts the big-endian bytes of one or more 32-bit IEEE 754 floating point numbers into an`ARRAY<FLOAT32>` value. For more information, seeString functions.
`TO_VECTOR64`	Converts the big-endian bytes of one or more 64-bit IEEE 754 floating point numbers into an`ARRAY<FLOAT64>` value. For more information, seeString functions.
`UNIX_DATE`	Converts a`DATE` value to the number of days since 1970-01-01. For more information, seeDate functions.
`UNIX_MICROS`	Converts a`TIMESTAMP` value to the number of microseconds since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC. For more information, seeTimestamp functions.
`UNIX_MILLIS`	Converts a`TIMESTAMP` value to the number of milliseconds since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC. For more information, seeTimestamp functions.
`UNIX_SECONDS`	Converts a`TIMESTAMP` value to the number of seconds since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC. For more information, seeTimestamp functions.

`CAST`

CAST(expressionAStypename)

Description

Cast syntax is used in a query to indicate that the result type of anexpression should be converted to some other type.

When usingCAST, a query can fail if GoogleSQL is unable to performthe cast. If you want to protect your queries from these types of errors, youcan useSAFE_CAST.

Casts between supported types that don't successfully map from the originalvalue to the target domain produce runtime errors. For example, castingBYTES toSTRING where the byte sequence isn't valid UTF-8 results in aruntime error.

Examples

The following query results in"true" ifx is1,"false" for any othernon-NULL value, andNULL ifx isNULL.

CAST(x=1ASSTRING)

CAST AS ARRAY

CAST(expressionASARRAY<element_type>)

Description

GoogleSQL supportscasting toARRAY. Theexpression parameter can represent an expression for these data types:

ARRAY

Conversion rules

From	To	Rule(s) when casting`x`
`ARRAY`	`ARRAY`	Must be the exact same array type.

CAST AS BOOL

CAST(expressionASBOOL)

Description

GoogleSQL supportscasting toBOOL. Theexpression parameter can represent an expression for these data types:

INT64
BOOL
STRING

Conversion rules

From	To	Rule(s) when casting`x`
INT64	`BOOL`	Returns`FALSE` if`x` is`0`,`TRUE` otherwise.
`STRING`	`BOOL`	Returns`TRUE` if`x` is`"true"` and`FALSE` if`x` is`"false"` All other values of`x` are invalid and throw an error instead of casting to a boolean. A string is case-insensitive when converting to a boolean.

CAST AS BYTES

CAST(expressionASBYTES)

Description

GoogleSQL supportscasting toBYTES. Theexpression parameter can represent an expression for these data types:

BYTES
STRING

Conversion rules

From	To	Rule(s) when casting`x`
`STRING`	`BYTES`	Strings are cast to bytes using UTF-8 encoding. For example, the string "©", when cast to bytes, would become a 2-byte sequence with the hex values C2 and A9.

CAST AS DATE

CAST(expressionASDATE)

Description

GoogleSQL supportscasting toDATE. Theexpressionparameter can represent an expression for these data types:

STRING
TIMESTAMP

Conversion rules

From	To	Rule(s) when casting`x`
`STRING`	`DATE`	When casting from string to date, the string must conform to the supported date literal format, and is independent of time zone. If the string expression is invalid or represents a date that's outside of the supported min/max range, then an error is produced.
`TIMESTAMP`	`DATE`	Casting from a timestamp to date effectively truncates the timestamp as of the default time zone.

CAST AS FLOAT64

CAST(expressionASFLOAT64)

CAST(expressionASFLOAT32)

Description

GoogleSQL supportscasting to floating point types.Theexpression parameter can represent an expression for these data types:

INT64
FLOAT32
FLOAT64
STRING

Conversion rules

From	To	Rule(s) when casting`x`
INT64	FLOAT64	Returns a close but potentially not exact floating point value.
`STRING`	FLOAT64	Returns`x` as a floating point value, interpreting it as having the same form as a valid floating point literal. Also supports casts from`"[+,-]inf"` to`[,-]Infinity`,`"[+,-]infinity"` to`[,-]Infinity`, and`"[+,-]nan"` to`NaN`. Conversions are case-insensitive.

CAST AS INT64

CAST(expressionASINT64)

Description

GoogleSQL supportscasting to integer types.Theexpression parameter can represent an expression for these data types:

INT64
FLOAT32
FLOAT64
ENUM
BOOL
STRING

Conversion rules

From	To	Rule(s) when casting`x`
FLOAT64	INT64	Returns the closest integer value. Halfway cases such as 1.5 or -0.5 round away from zero.
`BOOL`	INT64	Returns`1` if`x` is`TRUE`,`0` otherwise.
`STRING`	INT64	A hex string can be cast to an integer. For example,`0x123` to`291` or`-0x123` to`-291`.

Examples

If you are working with hex strings (0x123), you can cast those strings asintegers:

SELECT'0x123'ashex_value,CAST('0x123'asINT64)ashex_to_int;/*-----------+------------+ | hex_value | hex_to_int | +-----------+------------+ | 0x123     | 291        | +-----------+------------*/

SELECT'-0x123'ashex_value,CAST('-0x123'asINT64)ashex_to_int;/*-----------+------------+ | hex_value | hex_to_int | +-----------+------------+ | -0x123    | -291       | +-----------+------------*/

CAST AS STRING

CAST(expressionASSTRING)

Description

GoogleSQL supportscasting toSTRING. Theexpression parameter can represent an expression for these data types:

INT64
FLOAT32
FLOAT64
ENUM
BOOL
BYTES
DATE
TIMESTAMP
STRING

Conversion rules

From	To	Rule(s) when casting`x`
FLOAT64	`STRING`	Returns an approximate string representation. A returned`NaN` or`0` will not be signed.
`BOOL`	`STRING`	Returns`"true"` if`x` is`TRUE`,`"false"` otherwise.
`BYTES`	`STRING`	Returns`x` interpreted as a UTF-8 string. For example, the bytes literal`b'\xc2\xa9'`, when cast to a string, is interpreted as UTF-8 and becomes the unicode character "©". An error occurs if`x` isn't valid UTF-8.
`ENUM`	`STRING`	Returns the canonical enum value name of`x`. If an enum value has multiple names (aliases), the canonical name/alias for that value is used.
`DATE`	`STRING`	Casting from a date type to a string is independent of time zone and is of the form`YYYY-MM-DD`.
`TIMESTAMP`	`STRING`	When casting from timestamp types to string, the timestamp is interpreted using the default time zone, UTC. The number of subsecond digits produced depends on the number of trailing zeroes in the subsecond part: the CAST function will truncate zero, three, or six digits.

Examples

SELECTCAST(CURRENT_DATE()ASSTRING)AScurrent_date/*---------------+ | current_date  | +---------------+ | 2021-03-09    | +---------------*/

CAST AS TIMESTAMP

CAST(expressionASTIMESTAMP)

Description

GoogleSQL supportscasting toTIMESTAMP. Theexpression parameter can represent an expression for these data types:

STRING
TIMESTAMP

Conversion rules

From	To	Rule(s) when casting`x`
`STRING`	`TIMESTAMP`	When casting from string to a timestamp,`string_expression` must conform to the supported timestamp literal formats, or else a runtime error occurs. The`string_expression` may itself contain a time zone. If there is a time zone in the`string_expression`, that time zone is used for conversion, otherwise the default time zone, UTC, is used. If the string has fewer than six digits, then it's implicitly widened. An error is produced if the`string_expression` is invalid, has more than six subsecond digits (i.e., precision greater than microseconds), or represents a time outside of the supported timestamp range.
`DATE`	`TIMESTAMP`	Casting from a date to a timestamp interprets`date_expression` as of midnight (start of the day) in the default time zone, UTC.

Examples

The following example casts a string-formatted timestamp as a timestamp:

SELECTCAST("2020-06-02 17:00:53.110+00:00"ASTIMESTAMP)ASas_timestamp-- Results depend upon where this query was executed./*-----------------------------+ | as_timestamp                | +-----------------------------+ | 2020-06-03 00:00:53.110 UTC | +-----------------------------*/

`SAFE_CAST`

SAFE_CAST(expressionAStypename)

Description

When usingCAST, a query can fail if GoogleSQL is unable to performthe cast. For example, the following query generates an error:

SELECTCAST("apple"ASINT64)ASnot_a_number;

If you want to protect your queries from these types of errors, you can useSAFE_CAST.SAFE_CAST replaces runtime errors withNULLs. However, duringstatic analysis, impossible casts between two non-castable types still producean error because the query is invalid.

SELECTSAFE_CAST("apple"ASINT64)ASnot_a_number;/*--------------+ | not_a_number | +--------------+ | NULL         | +--------------*/

If you are casting from bytes to strings, you can also use thefunction,SAFE_CONVERT_BYTES_TO_STRING. Any invalid UTF-8 charactersare replaced with the unicode replacement character,U+FFFD.

Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under theCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, and code samples are licensed under theApache 2.0 License. For details, see theGoogle Developers Site Policies. Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates.

Last updated 2025-12-15 UTC.

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Conversion functions Stay organized with collections Save and categorize content based on your preferences.

Function list

CAST

CAST AS ARRAY

CAST AS BOOL

CAST AS BYTES

CAST AS DATE

CAST AS FLOAT64

CAST AS INT64

CAST AS STRING

CAST AS TIMESTAMP

SAFE_CAST

Conversion functions

`CAST`

`SAFE_CAST`