docs/sql-manual/sql-functions/table-functions/explode-json-array-json-outer.md

---
{
"title": "EXPLODE_JSON_ARRAY_JSON_OUTER",
"language": "en"
}
---

## Description
The `explode_json_array_json_outer` table function accepts a JSON array. Its implementation logic is to convert the JSON array to an array type and then call the `explode_outer` function for processing. The behavior is equivalent to: `explode_outer(cast(<json_array> as Array<JSON>))`.
It should be used together with [`LATERAL VIEW`](../../../query-data/lateral-view.md).

## Syntax
```sql
EXPLODE_JSON_ARRAY_JSON_OUTER(<json>)
```

## Parameters
- `<json>` JSON type, the content should be an array.

## Return Value
- Returns a single-column, multi-row result composed of all elements in `<json>`. The column type is `Nullable<JSON>`.
- If `<json>` is NULL or an empty array (number of elements is 0), 1 row with NULL is returned.

## Examples
0. Prepare data
    ```sql
    create table example(
        k1 int
    ) properties(
        "replication_num" = "1"
    );

    insert into example values(1);
    ```
1. Regular parameters
    ```sql
    select * from example lateral view explode_json_array_json_outer('[4, "abc", {"key": "value"}, 5.23, null]') t2 as c;
    ```
    ```text
    +------+-----------------+
    | k1   | c               |
    +------+-----------------+
    |    1 | 4               |
    |    1 | "abc"           |
    |    1 | {"key":"value"} |
    |    1 | 5.23            |
    |    1 | NULL            |
    +------+-----------------+
    ```
2. Empty array
    ```sql
    select * from example lateral view explode_json_array_json_outer('[]') t2 as c;
    ```
    ```text
    +------+------+
    | k1   | c    |
    +------+------+
    |    1 | NULL |
    +------+------+
    ```
3. NULL parameter
    ```sql
    select * from example lateral view explode_json_array_json_outer(NULL) t2 as c;
    ```
    ```text
    +------+------+
    | k1   | c    |
    +------+------+
    |    1 | NULL |
    +------+------+
    ```
4. Non-array parameter
    ```sql
    select * from example lateral view explode_json_array_json_outer('{}') t2 as c;
    ```
    ```text
    +------+------+
    | k1   | c    |
    +------+------+
    |    1 | NULL |
    +------+------+
    ```