How to pass an array to a plpgsql function with VARIADIC parameter I am trying to define a plpgsql function in Postgresql 10 with several parameters, including an array.

I have already defined the function

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION mix_table_fields(input_table_name VARCHAR, output_table_name VARCHAR, VARIADIC field_names VARCHAR[])
[...]


Now, when I try to call it:

SELECT mix_table_fields('articles'::VARCHAR, 'output_random_articles'::VARCHAR, array['type'::varchar,'colour'::varchar,'size'::varchar,'price'::varchar]) ;


I get the following error : " the function mix_table_fields(character varying, character varying, character varying[]) does not exist".

I have had this error before. It cannot recognize the signature of the function (its input parameters).

When I use pgAdmin3 to look at the function definition, it is:

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION public.mix_table_fields(
    IN input_table_name character varying,
    IN output_table_name character varying,
    VARIADIC field_names character varying[])


I cannot see what's wrong.

And if there is a way of getting rid of the ::VARCHAR at each parameter when calling the function, it would be easier.
To pass an actual array for a VARIADIC parameter, you must use the keyword VARIADIC in the call:

SELECT mix_table_fields('art'::VARCHAR
                      , 'out'::VARCHAR
                      , VARIADIC array['type'::varchar,'colour'::varchar,'size'::varchar,'price'::varchar]);

Even works without explicit type casts in your case. Function type resolution can find the best candidate for untyped string literals without ambiguity - as long as the function is not overloaded:

SELECT mix_table_fields('art', 'out', VARIADIC array['type','colour','size','price']);


Or with an array literal:

SELECT mix_table_fields('art', 'out', VARIADIC '{type,colour,size,price}');


Without the keyword VARIADIC, Postgres expects a list of element values like:

SELECT mix_table_fields('art', 'out', 'type', 'colour', 'size','price');


... which is the whole point of a VARIADIC function parameter: to be able to call it with a variable number of parameters of the element type, so you don't need the array wrapper. (Also the reason why a VARIADIC parameter must come last in the parameter list: else the call could be ambiguous.) If you don't need this feature, use a plain varchar[] parameter without VARIADIC in the function definition to begin with.

Related:


How to use an array as argument to a VARIADIC function in PostgreSQL?
Make query depend on input in PostgreSQL function