Function Expressions

October 16, 2025 · View on GitHub

The library provides several classes to represent SQL functions as expressions.

Important

The functions quote string values as column names, except when they contain a parentheses (, in which case they will be treated as raw SQL expressions. Use Value object for string values.

For example, new Longest(new Value('short'), 'column_name') will be rendered as LONGEST('short', "column_name").

The following expression classes are available:

ArrayMerge
Greatest
Least
Length
Longest
Shortest

ArrayMerge

The ArrayMerge expression allows you to merge two or more arrays into one array.

new ArrayMerge(['a', 'b'], 'array_col', $db->select(['array_col'])->from('table'));

Greatest

The Greatest expression allows you to find the largest value in a list of expressions.

new Greatest(1, 'int_col', $db->select(['int_col'])->from('table'));

Least

The Least expression allows you to find the smallest value in a list of expressions.

new Least(1, 'int_col', $db->select(['int_col'])->from('table'));

Length

The Length expression allows you to find the length of a string.

new Length(new Value('string'));
new Length('string_col');
new Length($db->select(['string_col'])->from('table'));

Longest

The Longest expression allows you to find the longest string in a list of expressions.

new Longest(new Value('short'), 'string_col', $db->select(['string_col'])->from('table'));

Shortest

The Shortest expression allows you to find the shortest string in a list of expressions.

new Shortest(new Value('short'), 'string_col', $db->select(['string_col'])->from('table'));