---

{ “title”: “JSON_EACH_OUTER”, “language”: “en”, “description”: “Expands the top-level JSON object into a set of key/value pairs, where the value column retains JSON type. Unlike json_each, returns one row of NULLs instead of 0 rows when input is NULL or an empty object. Must be used with LATERAL VIEW.” }

Description

The json_each_outer table function expands the top-level JSON object into a set of key/value pairs. Each row contains one key (key) and its corresponding value (value). The value column retains the JSON type, so string values are returned with JSON quotes preserved.

Unlike json_each, when the input is NULL or an empty object, json_each_outer returns one row of NULL, NULL instead of 0 rows.

Must be used with LATERAL VIEW.

Syntax

JSON_EACH_OUTER(<json_str>)

Parameters

Parameter	Description
<json_str>	The JSON string to expand. The content must be a JSON object.

Return Value

Returns multi-column, multi-row data. Each row corresponds to one key-value pair in the JSON object:

Column	Type	Description
key	String	The key name from the JSON object
value	JSON	The corresponding value, kept as JSON type (string values include quotes, e.g. "foo")

Special cases:

• If <json_str> is NULL, returns 1 row of NULL, NULL
• If <json_str> is an empty object ({}), returns 1 row of NULL, NULL

Examples

Basic usage: expand a JSON object with string values

SELECT k, v
FROM (SELECT 1) dummy
LATERAL VIEW json_each_outer('{"a":"foo","b":"bar"}') t AS k, v;

+---+-------+
| k | v     |
+---+-------+
| a | "foo" |
| b | "bar" |
+---+-------+

NULL parameter: returns 1 row of NULL

SELECT k, v
FROM (SELECT 1) dummy
LATERAL VIEW json_each_outer(NULL) t AS k, v;

+------+------+
| k    | v    |
+------+------+
| NULL | NULL |
+------+------+

Empty object: returns 1 row of NULL

SELECT k, v
FROM (SELECT 1) dummy
LATERAL VIEW json_each_outer('{}') t AS k, v;

+------+------+
| k    | v    |
+------+------+
| NULL | NULL |
+------+------+