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DESCRIBE FUNCTION

Applies to: check marked yes Databricks SQL check marked yes Databricks Runtime

Returns the basic metadata information of an existing function. The metadata information includes the function name, implementing class and the usage details. If the optional EXTENDED option is specified, the basic metadata information is returned along with the extended usage information.

Syntax​

{ DESC | DESCRIBE } FUNCTION [ EXTENDED ] function_name

Parameters​

  • function_name

    The name of an existing function in the metastore. The function name may be optionally qualified with a schema name. If function_name is qualified with a schema then the function is resolved from the user specified schema, otherwise it is resolved from the current schema.

Examples​

SQL
-- Describe a builtin scalar function.
-- Returns function name, implementing class and usage
> DESCRIBE FUNCTION abs;
 Function: abs
 Class: org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.expressions.Abs
 Usage: abs(expr) - Returns the absolute value of the numeric value.

-- Describe a builtin scalar function.
-- Returns function name, implementing class and usage and examples.
> DESCRIBE FUNCTION EXTENDED abs;
 Function: abs
 Class: org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.expressions.Abs
 Usage: abs(expr) - Returns the absolute value of the numeric value.
 Extended Usage:
     Examples:
       > SELECT abs(-1);
        1

-- Describe a builtin aggregate function
> DESCRIBE FUNCTION max;
 Function: max
 Class: org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.expressions.aggregate.Max
 Usage: max(expr) - Returns the maximum value of `expr`.

-- Describe a builtin user defined aggregate function
-- Returns function name, implementing class and usage and examples.
> DESCRIBE FUNCTION EXTENDED explode;
 Function: explode
 Class: org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.expressions.Explode
 Usage: explode(expr) - Separates the elements of array `expr`
  into multiple rows, or the elements of map `expr` into
  multiple rows and columns. Unless specified otherwise, use
  the default column name `col` for elements of the array or
  `key` and `value` for the elements of the map.
 Extended Usage:
     Examples:
       > SELECT explode(array(10, 20));
        10
        20

-- Describe a user defined scalar function
> CREATE FUNCTION dice(n INT) RETURNS INT
    NOT DETERMINISTIC
    COMMENT 'An n-sided dice'
    RETURN floor((rand() * n) + 1);

> DESCRIBE FUNCTION EXTENDED dice;
 Function:      default.dice
 Type:          SCALAR
 Input:         n INT
 Returns:       INT
 Comment:       An n-sided dice
 Deterministic: false
 Owner:         user
 Create Time:   Fri Apr 16 10:00:00 PDT 2021
 Body:          floor((rand() * n) + 1)
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