# Array Constructor

**Applies to:** ✅ Data 360 SQL ✅ Tableau Hyper API

Creates an array from a comma-separated list of values.

## Syntax

```sql
ARRAY[<element1>, <element2>, ..., <elementN>]
```

## Arguments

### Required

- `<element1>, <element2>, ..., <elementN>`: Values to include in the array. All elements must be of compatible types that can be coerced to a common element type.

## Returns

Returns an `ARRAY` that contains the specified elements. Data 360 SQL automatically infers the array type from the provided elements.

## Considerations

- All array elements must be of compatible types.
- Elements can be literals, column references, or expressions.
- Empty arrays can be created with `ARRAY[]`.
- Arrays can contain `NULL` values.
- Type coercion applies when elements are of different but compatible types.
- If no `null` values are in the constructor, Data 360 SQL infers the element type as `not null`.
- Arrays are limited to 4 GB in size
- Arrays cannot be nested (see [Array Type](/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/references/dc-sql-reference/array.md#limitations)).

## Examples

### Create an Array of Integers

Create a simple array of numeric values.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY[1, 2, 3, 4, 5] AS numbers;
```

Returns `[1,2,3,4,5]`

### Create an Array of Strings

Create an array from string literals.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY['apple', 'banana', 'cherry'] AS fruits;
```

Returns `["apple","banana","cherry"]`

### Array from Column Values

Create an array from multiple columns in a query.

```sql
SELECT
  customer_id,
  ARRAY[first_name__c, last_name__c] AS name_parts
FROM Customer__dlm
WHERE customer_id = '12345';
```

### Array with Expressions

Use expressions within the array constructor.

```sql
SELECT
  product_name,
  base_price,
  ARRAY[base_price, base_price * 0.9, base_price * 0.8] AS price_tiers
FROM Product__dlm;
```

### Empty Array

Create an empty array with an explicit integer type.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY[]::array(int) AS empty_array;
```

Returns `[]`

### Array with NULL Values

Arrays can contain NULL elements.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY[1, NULL, 3, NULL, 5] AS sparse_values;
```

Returns `[1,NULL,3,NULL,5]`

### Type Coercion

When elements are of different but compatible types, automatic type coercion occurs.

```sql
SELECT ARRAY[1, 2.5, 3] AS mixed_numbers;
```

Returns `[1.0,2.5,3.0]` - all elements coerced to decimal type.

## Related Documentation

- [Array Data Type](/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/references/dc-sql-reference/array.md) - Complete documentation on array types including constructor syntax
- [Array Functions](/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/references/dc-sql-reference/arrays.md) - Overview of all array functions
- [`ARRAY_GENERATE_SERIES`](/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/references/dc-sql-reference/array-generate-series.md) - Generate arrays programmatically
- [Type Conversion](/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/references/dc-sql-reference/type-conversion.md) - Type casting and coercion