# JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT() Function in PostgreSQL

> The JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT() is a built-in JSON function that accepts a JSON array as an argument and expands its top-level elements into a set of text value…

PostgreSQL offers a JSON array data type, similar to standard arrays in programming, which enables the storage of ordered collections in JSON format. Postgres provides numerous functions to manipulate JSON data, including **JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT()** , JSON_ARRAY_LENGTH(), JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS(), and many more.

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

 **How to Use JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT() Function in PostgreSQL?**

The JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT() is a built-in JSON function that accepts a JSON array as an argument and expands its top-level elements into a set of text values.

 **Syntax**

Use the below-stated syntax to retrieve an expanded set of text values from the specified JSON array:
    
    
    JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT(array JSON);

 **Parameters**

The stated function accepts a single argument “array” that must be a JSON array.

 **Return Value**

An expanded set that consists of given JSON array elements in the form of TEXT.

 **Return Type**

The data type of the expanded set values will be TEXT.

 **Example 1: Using JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT() Function**

The below code snippet demonstrates the use of the JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT() function in Postgres:
    
    
    SELECT JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT('[100, 110, 90, [120, -12], [13, 14]]');

The stated function retrieves an expanded set that consists of the specified array elements as TEXT:

 **Example 2: Using JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS() Function as a Temp Table**

The return value of the JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT() function is of type “SETOF” which allows us to utilize it as a temporary table. To do this, we can execute the JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT() function with the “SELECT *” statement as follows:
    
    
    SELECT * 
    FROM JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT('[100, 110, 90, [120, -12], [13, 14]]');

On successful execution, the JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT() function will retrieve the following output:

This is how the JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT() function works in PostgreSQL.

 **Conclusion**

The **JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT()** is a built-in JSON function that accepts a JSON array as an argument and expands its top-level elements into a set of text values. The return value of the JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT() function is of type “SETOF” which allows us to utilize it as a temporary table. This post has demonstrated the working of the JSON_ARRAY_ELEMENTS_TEXT() in PostgreSQL using suitable examples.

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