docs/sql-ref-function-current-path.md

---
layout: global
title: current_path function
displayTitle: current_path function
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  The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0
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---

Returns the effective SQL Path for the current session as a comma-separated string of
qualified namespace names. See [`SET PATH`](sql-ref-syntax-aux-conf-mgmt-set-path.html) for a
description of what the path is, how to enable it, and how to change it, and
[Name Resolution](sql-ref-name-resolution.html) for how the path drives unqualified name
resolution.

### Syntax

```sql
current_path()
```

### Arguments

This function takes no arguments. The parentheses may be omitted.

### Returns

A non-nullable `STRING`. Each path entry is written as a dotted name with backticks added only
where required by Spark's identifier rules. Entries are separated by a single comma.

When the path contains the virtual `CURRENT_SCHEMA` marker, the marker is materialized as the
catalog-qualified current schema (`current_catalog.current_schema`) each time
`current_path()` is evaluated, so subsequent `USE SCHEMA` statements are reflected without
re-issuing `SET PATH`.

### Examples

```sql
> SELECT current_path();
 system.builtin,system.session,spark_catalog.default

-- ANSI no-parens form returns the same value.
> SELECT CURRENT_PATH;
 system.builtin,system.session,spark_catalog.default

-- The output reflects the latest SET PATH.
> SET PATH = spark_catalog.default, system.builtin;
> SELECT current_path();
 spark_catalog.default,system.builtin

-- CURRENT_SCHEMA on the path is re-evaluated on every call.
> SET PATH = CURRENT_SCHEMA, system.builtin;
> USE spark_catalog.finance;
> SELECT current_path();
 spark_catalog.finance,system.builtin
> USE spark_catalog.default;
> SELECT current_path();
 spark_catalog.default,system.builtin

-- Inside a persistent view or SQL function body, current_path() returns the invoker's path,
-- not the frozen path captured at creation time.
> SET PATH = spark_catalog.default, system.builtin;
> CREATE VIEW v_path AS SELECT current_path() AS p;
> SET PATH = spark_catalog.other, system.builtin;
> SELECT * FROM v_path;
 spark_catalog.other,system.builtin
```

### Related Statements

* [Name Resolution](sql-ref-name-resolution.html)
* [SET PATH](sql-ref-syntax-aux-conf-mgmt-set-path.html)
* [Built-in Functions](sql-ref-functions-builtin.html)