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# PostgreSQL SPLIT_PART() Function

**Summary**: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the PostgreSQL SPLIT_PART() function to retrieve a part of a string at a specified position after splitting.

## Introduction to the PostgreSQL SPLIT_PART() function

The `SPLIT_PART()` function splits a [string](../postgresql-tutorial/postgresql-char-varchar-text) on a specified delimiter and returns the nth substring.

The following illustrates the syntax of the PostgreSQL `SPLIT_PART()` function:

```sql
SPLIT_PART(string, delimiter, position)
```

The `SPLIT_PART()` function requires three arguments:

**1) `string`**

This is the string to be split.

**2) `delimiter`**

The delimiter is a string used as the delimiter for splitting.

**3) `position`**

This is the position of the part to return, starting from 1. The position must be a positive integer.

If the `position` is greater than the number of parts after splitting, the `SPLIT_PART()` function returns an empty string.

The `SPLIT_PART()` function returns a part as a string at a specified position.

## PostgreSQL SPLIT_PART() function examples

Let's take some examples of using the PostgreSQL `SPLIT_PART()` function.

### 1) Basic PostgreSQL SPLIT_PART() function example

The following example uses the `SPLIT_PART()` function to split a string by a comma (`,`) and returns the third substring:

```sql
SELECT SPLIT_PART('A,B,C', ',', 2);
```

The string `'A,B,C'` is split on the comma delimiter (,) that results in 3 substrings: 'A', 'B', and 'C'.

Because the `position` is 2, the function returns the 2nd substring which is 'B'.

Here is the output:

```text
 split_part
------------
 B
(1 row)
```

### 1) Using PostgreSQL SPLIT_PART() function with a position that does not exist

The following example returns an empty string because the position is greater than the number of parts (3):

```sql
SELECT SPLIT_PART('A,B,C', ',', 4) result;
```

Output:

```
 result
--------

(1 row)
```

### 3) Using the SPLIT_PART() function with table data

See the following `payment` table in the [sample database.](../postgresql-getting-started/postgresql-sample-database)

![payment table](https://neon.com/postgresqltutorial/payment-table.png)
The following statement uses the `SPLIT_PART()` function to return the year and month of the payment date:

```sql
SELECT
    split_part(payment_date::TEXT,'-', 1) y,
    split_part(payment_date::TEXT,'-', 2) m,
    amount
FROM
    payment;
```

Output:

```
  y   | m  | amount
------+----+--------
 2007 | 02 |   7.99
 2007 | 02 |   1.99
 2007 | 02 |   7.99
...
```

## Summary

- Use the PostgreSQL `SPLIT_PART()` function to retrieve a part of a string at a specified position after splitting.

---

## Related docs (String Functions)

- [ASCII](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-ascii)
- [CHR](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-chr)
- [CONCAT](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-concat-function)
- [CONCAT_WS](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-concat_ws)
- [FORMAT](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-format)
- [INITCAP](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-initcap)
- [LEFT](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-left)
- [LENGTH](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-length-function)
- [LOWER](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-lower)
- [LPAD](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-lpad)
- [LTRIM](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-ltrim)
- [MD5](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-md5)
- [POSITION](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-position)
- [REGEXP_MATCHES](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-regexp_matches)
- [REGEXP_REPLACE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/regexp_replace)
- [REPEAT](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-repeat)
- [REVERSE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-reverse)
- [REPLACE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-replace)
- [RIGHT](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-right)
- [RPAD](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-rpad)
- [RTRIM](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-rtrim)
- [SUBSTRING](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-substring)
- [TO_CHAR](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-to_char)
- [TO_NUMBER](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-to_number)
- [TRANSLATE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-translate)
- [TRIM](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-trim-function)
- [UPPER](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-upper)