QUOTE_IDENT

Returns the specified string argument in the format that is required in order to use that string as an identifier in an SQL statement. Quotes are added as needed—for example, if the string contains non-identifier characters or is an SQL or Vertica‑reserved keyword:

  • 1time
  • Next week
  • SELECT

Embedded double quotes are doubled.

  • SQL identifiers such as table and column names are stored as created, and references to them are resolved using case-insensitive compares. Thus, you do not need to double-quote mixed-case identifiers.
  • Vertica quotes all reserved keywords, even if they are unused.

Behavior Type

Immutable

Syntax

QUOTE_IDENT( 'string' )

Parameters

string

String to quote

Examples

Quoted identifiers are case-insensitive, and Vertica does not supply the quotes:

=> SELECT QUOTE_IDENT('VErtIcA');
 QUOTE_IDENT
-------------
 VErtIcA
(1 row)

=> SELECT QUOTE_IDENT('Vertica database');
    QUOTE_IDENT
--------------------
 "Vertica database"
(1 row)

Embedded double quotes are doubled:

=> SELECT QUOTE_IDENT('Vertica "!" database');
       QUOTE_IDENT
--------------------------
 "Vertica ""!"" database"
(1 row)

The following example uses the SQL keyword SELECT, so results are double quoted:

=> SELECT QUOTE_IDENT('select');
 QUOTE_IDENT
-------------
 "select"
(1 row)