Categories:: Data metric functions

SPECIAL_CHARACTER_COUNT (system data metric function)¶

Returns the count of non-NULL column values that contain characters outside the alphanumeric range (not A-Z, a-z, or 0-9). Spaces, punctuation, and Unicode characters are all counted as special. Use this function to validate columns that should be alphanumeric only (identifiers, codes).

This topic provides the syntax for calling the function directly. To learn how to associate the function with a table or view so it runs at regular intervals, see Associate a DMF.

Syntax¶

SNOWFLAKE.CORE.SPECIAL_CHARACTER_COUNT(<query>)

Arguments¶

query: Specifies a SQL query that projects a single column.

Allowed data types¶

The column projected by the query must have the VARCHAR data type.

Returns¶

The function returns a NUMBER value. NULL values are excluded from the count.

Example¶

Measure the number of values in the product_code column containing special characters:

SELECT SNOWFLAKE.CORE.SPECIAL_CHARACTER_COUNT(
  SELECT
    product_code
  FROM inventory.tables.products
);