# How to Use the ARRAY_TO_JSON() Function in PostgreSQL

> The array_to_json() is a built-in JSON function that accepts a SQL array as an argument and converts it into a JSON array.

In PostgreSQL, the **JSON** array data type is used to store ordered collections in JSON format. It is similar to standard arrays in programming. PostgreSQL offers several built-in JSON functions to manipulate JSON data efficiently, such as **ARRAY_TO_JSON()** , JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS(), JSON_ARRAY_LENGTH(), and many more.

This post illustrates the basic syntax and working of the ARRAY_TO_JSON() function in Postgres using practical examples.

 **How to Use the ARRAY_TO_JSON() Function in PostgreSQL?**

The array_to_json() is a built-in JSON function that accepts a SQL array as an argument and converts it into a JSON array.

 **Syntax**

Use the below-stated syntax to retrieve a converted JSON array from the specified SQL array:
    
    
    ARRAY_TO_JSON(array ARRAY, pretty BOOLEAN);

 **Parameters**

The stated function accepts a mandatory argument “array” that represents an SQL array. Moreover, it can accept an optional argument “pretty” to beautify the resultant JSON ARRAY.

 **Return Value**

It retrieves a JSON array.

 **Example 1: Using ARRAY_TO_JSON()**

This example demonstrates the usage of the PostgreSQL array_to_json() function to convert the given SQL array into a JSON array:
    
    
    SELECT ARRAY_TO_JSON('{100, 12, 53, -1, 24}'::int[]) AS converted_json_array;

The specified array has been successfully converted into a JSON array:

 **Example 2: Using ARRAY_TO_JSON() on Multidimensional Array**

This example illustrates the usage of the PostgreSQL array_to_json() function on a multi-dimensional array:
    
    
    SELECT ARRAY_TO_JSON('{{"John", "Joseph"}, 
     {"Henry", "Anna"}}'::TEXT[]) AS converted_json_array;

The specified array has been successfully converted into a JSON array:

 **Example 3: Using ARRAY_TO_JSON() With Pretty Parameter**

This example uses the true value for the “pretty” parameter to beautify the resultant JSON ARRAY.
    
    
    SELECT ARRAY_TO_JSON('{{"John", "Joseph"}, 
     {"Henry", "Anna"}}'::TEXT[], pretty) AS converted_json_array;

The output snippet demonstrates that the converted array has been beautified successfully:

That was all about the ARRAY_TO_JSON() function in Postgres.

 **Conclusion**

The array_to_json() is a built-in JSON function that accepts a SQL array as an argument and converts it into a JSON array. The stated function accepts a mandatory argument “array” that represents an SQL array and an optional argument “pretty” to beautify the resultant JSON ARRAY. It retrieves a JSON array. This post has illustrated several use cases of the ARRAY_TO_JSON() function in PostgreSQL.

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