# JSON\_ARRAY\_PACK

Converts a JSON array of zero or more floating point numbers to an encoded blob.

It is a scalar function.

## Syntax

```sql
JSON_ARRAY_PACK('[float [, ...]]')

```

## Arguments

A JSON array.

## Return Type

A blob containing packed single-precision floating-point numbers in little-endian byte order.

> **⚠️ Warning**: Beginning with 8.5 the blob data type will be replaced with the vector data type. Blob data types will be deprecated for vector databases.

## Remarks

`JSON_ARRAY_PACK()` can be used with other vector built-in functions, namely `DOT_PRODUCT()`, `VECTOR_ADD()`, `VECTOR_MUL()`,`VECTOR_SUB()`, and `EUCLIDEAN_DISTANCE()`. These functions require two input vectors that are encoded as blobs containing packed single-precision or double-precision floating-point numbers in little-endian byte order. The vector returned by `JSON_ARRAY_PACK()` is appropriately formatted for use as an input parameter to these functions.

You can specify the data type of the vector elements in which this operation is performed on the vector by adding a suffix to the function. Omitting the suffix from the function is equivalent to suffixing it with `_F32`. All operations are done using the specified data type. The following table lists the suffixes and their data type.

| Suffix | Data Type                                           |
| ------ | --------------------------------------------------- |
| `_I8`  | 8-bit signed integer                                |
| `_I16` | 16-bit signed integer                               |
| `_I32` | 32-bit signed integer                               |
| `_I64` | 64-bit signed integer                               |
| `_F32` | 32-bit floating-point number (IEEE standard format) |
| `_F64` | 64-bit floating-point number (IEEE standard format) |

## Examples

**Example: Inserting Data Using JSON\_ARRAY\_PACK()**

The following example inserts data into a table with a column of the `BLOB` data type. In this example, the `HEX()` built-in function is also used to return a readable form of the binary output:

```sql
CREATE TABLE jp_t (b blob);
INSERT INTO jp_t VALUES (JSON_ARRAY_PACK('[1.0, 0.5, 2.0]'));
```

```sql
SELECT HEX(b) FROM jp_t;

```

```output

+--------------------------+
| HEX(b)                   |
+--------------------------+
| 0000803F0000003F00000040 |
+--------------------------+

```

You can also use the suffix to specify the data type as follows:

```sql
INSERT INTO jp_t VALUES (JSON_ARRAY_PACK_I16('[1.0, 0.5, 2.0]'));
```

```sql
SELECT HEX(b) FROM jp_t;

```

```output

+--------------+
| HEX(b)       |
+--------------+
| 010001000200 |
+--------------+

```

**Example: Using JSON\_ARRAY\_PACK() with DOT\_PRODUCT()**

The following example uses `JSON_ARRAY_PACK()` for input parameters to the `DOT_PRODUCT()` built-in function:

```sql
SELECT DOT_PRODUCT(JSON_ARRAY_PACK('[1.0, 0.5, 2.0]'), JSON_ARRAY_PACK('[1.0, 0.5, 2.0]'));

```

```output

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| DOT_PRODUCT(JSON_ARRAY_PACK('[1.0, 0.5, 2.0]'), JSON_ARRAY_PACK('[1.0, 0.5, 2.0]')) |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                                5.25 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

```

**Example: Using JSON\_ARRAY\_PACK() with VECTOR\_SUB()**

The following example uses `JSON_ARRAY_PACK()` for input parameters to the `VECTOR_SUB()` built-in function. The `HEX()` built-in function is also used to return a readable form of the binary output:

```sql
SELECT HEX(VECTOR_SUB(JSON_ARRAY_PACK('[1.0, 0.5, 2.0]'), JSON_ARRAY_PACK('[0.7, 0.2, 1.7]')));

```

```output

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| HEX(VECTOR_SUB(JSON_ARRAY_PACK('[1.0, 0.5, 2.0]'), JSON_ARRAY_PACK('[0.7, 0.2, 1.7]'))) |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| 9A99993E9A99993E9899993E                                                                |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

```

**Example: Using JSON\_ARRAY\_PACK() with EUCLIDEAN\_DISTANCE()**

The following example uses `JSON_ARRAY_PACK()` for input parameters to the `EUCLIDEAN_DISTANCE()` built-in function:

```sql
SELECT EUCLIDEAN_DISTANCE(JSON_ARRAY_PACK('[1.0, 0.5, 2.0]'), JSON_ARRAY_PACK('[0.7, 0.2, 1.7]'));

```

```output

+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| EUCLIDEAN_DISTANCE(JSON_ARRAY_PACK('[1.0, 0.5, 2.0]'), JSON_ARRAY_PACK('[0.7, 0.2, 1.7]')) |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                         0.5196152239171921 |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

```

## Related Topics

* [DOT\_PRODUCT](https://docs.singlestore.com/db/v9.1/reference/sql-reference/vector-functions/dot-product.md)
* [VECTOR\_SUB](https://docs.singlestore.com/db/v9.1/reference/sql-reference/vector-functions/vector-sub.md)
* [EUCLIDEAN\_DISTANCE](https://docs.singlestore.com/db/v9.1/reference/sql-reference/vector-functions/euclidean-distance.md)
* [Vector Type](https://docs.singlestore.com/db/v9.1/reference/sql-reference/data-types/vector-type.md)

***

Modified at: March 21, 2024

Source: [/db/v9.1/reference/sql-reference/vector-functions/json-array-pack/](https://docs.singlestore.com/db/v9.1/reference/sql-reference/vector-functions/json-array-pack/)

(An index of the documentation is available at /llms.txt)