1. A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, as input to a previously defined function within a database, a plurality of values, of a particular data type, that each indicate a respective position within a hierarchy; wherein each value of the plurality of values indicates, for the respective position within the hierarchy indicated by the each value, a complete hierarchical lineage of the respective position within the hierarchy; the function returning a result value based on both: (a) the plurality of values; and (b) a hierarchical relationship of the respective positions within the hierarchy.