PLAN clauses for JSON_TABLE

These clauses allow the user to specify how data from nested paths are
joined, allowing considerable freedom in shaping the tabular output of
JSON_TABLE.

PLAN DEFAULT allows the user to specify the global strategies when
dealing with sibling or child nested paths. The is often sufficient to
achieve the necessary goal, and is considerably simpler than the full
PLAN clause, which allows the user to specify the strategy to be used
for each named nested path.

Nikita Glukhov

Reviewers have included (in no particular order) Andres Freund, Alexander
Korotkov, Pavel Stehule, Andrew Alsup, Erik Rijkers, Zhihong Yu,
Himanshu Upadhyaya, Daniel Gustafsson, Justin Pryzby.

Discussion: https://postgr.es/m/7e2cb85d-24cf-4abb-30a5-1a33715959bd@postgrespro.ru

src/test/regress/sql/jsonb_sqljson.sql

@@ -418,18 +418,18 @@ SELECT * FROM
 			ta text[] PATH '$',
 			jba jsonb[] PATH '$',
 
-			NESTED PATH '$[1]' COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$[1]' AS p1 COLUMNS (
 				a1 int,
-				NESTED PATH '$[*]' COLUMNS (
+				NESTED PATH '$[*]' AS "p1 1" COLUMNS (
 					a11 text
 				),
 				b1 text
 			),
-			NESTED PATH '$[2]' COLUMNS (
-				NESTED PATH '$[*]' COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$[2]' AS p2 COLUMNS (
+				NESTED PATH '$[*]' AS "p2:1" COLUMNS (
 					a21 text
 				),
-				NESTED PATH '$[*]' COLUMNS (
+				NESTED PATH '$[*]' AS p22 COLUMNS (
 					a22 text
 				)
 			)
@@ -482,13 +482,42 @@ SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(jsonb '"a"', '$' COLUMNS (a jsonb EXISTS PATH '$.a'));
 
 -- JSON_TABLE: nested paths and plans
 
+-- Should fail (JSON_TABLE columns must contain explicit AS path
+-- specifications if explicit PLAN clause is used)
+SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
+	jsonb '[]', '$' -- AS <path name> required here
+	COLUMNS (
+		foo int PATH '$'
+	)
+	PLAN DEFAULT (UNION)
+) jt;
+
+SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
+	jsonb '[]', '$' AS path1
+	COLUMNS (
+		NESTED PATH '$' COLUMNS ( -- AS <path name> required here
+			foo int PATH '$'
+		)
+	)
+	PLAN DEFAULT (UNION)
+) jt;
+
 -- Should fail (column names must be distinct)
 SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
-	jsonb '[]', '$'
+	jsonb '[]', '$' AS a
 	COLUMNS (
-		a int,
-		b text,
-		a jsonb
+		a int
+	)
+) jt;
+
+SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
+	jsonb '[]', '$' AS a
+	COLUMNS (
+		b int,
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS a
+		COLUMNS (
+			c int
+		)
 	)
 ) jt;
 
@@ -496,10 +525,9 @@ SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
 	jsonb '[]', '$'
 	COLUMNS (
 		b int,
-		NESTED PATH '$'
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS b
 		COLUMNS (
-			c int,
-			b text
+			c int
 		)
 	)
 ) jt;
@@ -507,21 +535,176 @@ SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
 SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
 	jsonb '[]', '$'
 	COLUMNS (
-		NESTED PATH '$'
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS a
 		COLUMNS (
 			b int
 		),
 		NESTED PATH '$'
 		COLUMNS (
-			NESTED PATH '$'
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS a
 			COLUMNS (
-				c int,
-				b text
+				c int
 			)
 		)
 	)
 ) jt;
 
+-- JSON_TABLE: plan validation
+
+SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
+	jsonb 'null', '$[*]' AS p0
+	COLUMNS (
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p1 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p11 COLUMNS ( foo int ),
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p12 COLUMNS ( bar int )
+		),
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p2 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p21 COLUMNS ( baz int )
+		)
+	)
+	PLAN (p1)
+) jt;
+
+SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
+	jsonb 'null', '$[*]' AS p0
+	COLUMNS (
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p1 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p11 COLUMNS ( foo int ),
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p12 COLUMNS ( bar int )
+		),
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p2 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p21 COLUMNS ( baz int )
+		)
+	)
+	PLAN (p0)
+) jt;
+
+SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
+	jsonb 'null', '$[*]' AS p0
+	COLUMNS (
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p1 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p11 COLUMNS ( foo int ),
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p12 COLUMNS ( bar int )
+		),
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p2 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p21 COLUMNS ( baz int )
+		)
+	)
+	PLAN (p0 OUTER p3)
+) jt;
+
+SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
+	jsonb 'null', '$[*]' AS p0
+	COLUMNS (
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p1 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p11 COLUMNS ( foo int ),
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p12 COLUMNS ( bar int )
+		),
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p2 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p21 COLUMNS ( baz int )
+		)
+	)
+	PLAN (p0 UNION p1 UNION p11)
+) jt;
+
+SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
+	jsonb 'null', '$[*]' AS p0
+	COLUMNS (
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p1 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p11 COLUMNS ( foo int ),
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p12 COLUMNS ( bar int )
+		),
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p2 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p21 COLUMNS ( baz int )
+		)
+	)
+	PLAN (p0 OUTER (p1 CROSS p13))
+) jt;
+
+SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
+	jsonb 'null', '$[*]' AS p0
+	COLUMNS (
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p1 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p11 COLUMNS ( foo int ),
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p12 COLUMNS ( bar int )
+		),
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p2 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p21 COLUMNS ( baz int )
+		)
+	)
+	PLAN (p0 OUTER (p1 CROSS p2))
+) jt;
+
+SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
+	jsonb 'null', '$[*]' AS p0
+	COLUMNS (
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p1 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p11 COLUMNS ( foo int ),
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p12 COLUMNS ( bar int )
+		),
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p2 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p21 COLUMNS ( baz int )
+		)
+	)
+	PLAN (p0 OUTER ((p1 UNION p11) CROSS p2))
+) jt;
+
+SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
+	jsonb 'null', '$[*]' AS p0
+	COLUMNS (
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p1 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p11 COLUMNS ( foo int ),
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p12 COLUMNS ( bar int )
+		),
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p2 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p21 COLUMNS ( baz int )
+		)
+	)
+	PLAN (p0 OUTER ((p1 INNER p11) CROSS p2))
+) jt;
+
+SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
+	jsonb 'null', '$[*]' AS p0
+	COLUMNS (
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p1 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p11 COLUMNS ( foo int ),
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p12 COLUMNS ( bar int )
+		),
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p2 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p21 COLUMNS ( baz int )
+		)
+	)
+	PLAN (p0 OUTER ((p1 INNER (p12 CROSS p11)) CROSS p2))
+) jt;
+
+SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
+	jsonb 'null', 'strict $[*]' AS p0
+	COLUMNS (
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p1 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p11 COLUMNS ( foo int ),
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p12 COLUMNS ( bar int )
+		),
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p2 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p21 COLUMNS ( baz int )
+		)
+	)
+	PLAN (p0 OUTER ((p1 INNER (p12 CROSS p11)) CROSS (p2 INNER p21)))
+) jt;
+
+SELECT * FROM JSON_TABLE(
+	jsonb 'null', 'strict $[*]' -- without root path name
+	COLUMNS (
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p1 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p11 COLUMNS ( foo int ),
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p12 COLUMNS ( bar int )
+		),
+		NESTED PATH '$' AS p2 COLUMNS (
+			NESTED PATH '$' AS p21 COLUMNS ( baz int )
+		)
+	)
+	PLAN ((p1 INNER (p12 CROSS p11)) CROSS (p2 INNER p21))
+) jt;
+
 -- JSON_TABLE: plan execution
 
 CREATE TEMP TABLE jsonb_table_test (js jsonb);
@@ -542,15 +725,190 @@ select
 from
 	jsonb_table_test jtt,
 	json_table (
-		jtt.js,'strict $[*]'
+		jtt.js,'strict $[*]' as p
 		columns (
 			n for ordinality,
 			a int path 'lax $.a' default -1 on empty,
-			nested path 'strict $.b[*]' columns ( b int path '$' ),
-			nested path 'strict $.c[*]' columns ( c int path '$' )
+			nested path 'strict $.b[*]' as pb columns ( b int path '$' ),
+			nested path 'strict $.c[*]' as pc columns ( c int path '$' )
 		)
 	) jt;
 
+-- default plan (outer, union)
+select
+	jt.*
+from
+	jsonb_table_test jtt,
+	json_table (
+		jtt.js,'strict $[*]' as p
+		columns (
+			n for ordinality,
+			a int path 'lax $.a' default -1 on empty,
+			nested path 'strict $.b[*]' as pb columns ( b int path '$' ),
+			nested path 'strict $.c[*]' as pc columns ( c int path '$' )
+		)
+		plan default (outer, union)
+	) jt;
+
+-- specific plan (p outer (pb union pc))
+select
+	jt.*
+from
+	jsonb_table_test jtt,
+	json_table (
+		jtt.js,'strict $[*]' as p
+		columns (
+			n for ordinality,
+			a int path 'lax $.a' default -1 on empty,
+			nested path 'strict $.b[*]' as pb columns ( b int path '$' ),
+			nested path 'strict $.c[*]' as pc columns ( c int path '$' )
+		)
+		plan (p outer (pb union pc))
+	) jt;
+
+-- specific plan (p outer (pc union pb))
+select
+	jt.*
+from
+	jsonb_table_test jtt,
+	json_table (
+		jtt.js,'strict $[*]' as p
+		columns (
+			n for ordinality,
+			a int path 'lax $.a' default -1 on empty,
+			nested path 'strict $.b[*]' as pb columns ( b int path '$' ),
+			nested path 'strict $.c[*]' as pc columns ( c int path '$' )
+		)
+		plan (p outer (pc union pb))
+	) jt;
+
+-- default plan (inner, union)
+select
+	jt.*
+from
+	jsonb_table_test jtt,
+	json_table (
+		jtt.js,'strict $[*]' as p
+		columns (
+			n for ordinality,
+			a int path 'lax $.a' default -1 on empty,
+			nested path 'strict $.b[*]' as pb columns ( b int path '$' ),
+			nested path 'strict $.c[*]' as pc columns ( c int path '$' )
+		)
+		plan default (inner)
+	) jt;
+
+-- specific plan (p inner (pb union pc))
+select
+	jt.*
+from
+	jsonb_table_test jtt,
+	json_table (
+		jtt.js,'strict $[*]' as p
+		columns (
+			n for ordinality,
+			a int path 'lax $.a' default -1 on empty,
+			nested path 'strict $.b[*]' as pb columns ( b int path '$' ),
+			nested path 'strict $.c[*]' as pc columns ( c int path '$' )
+		)
+		plan (p inner (pb union pc))
+	) jt;
+
+-- default plan (inner, cross)
+select
+	jt.*
+from
+	jsonb_table_test jtt,
+	json_table (
+		jtt.js,'strict $[*]' as p
+		columns (
+			n for ordinality,
+			a int path 'lax $.a' default -1 on empty,
+			nested path 'strict $.b[*]' as pb columns ( b int path '$' ),
+			nested path 'strict $.c[*]' as pc columns ( c int path '$' )
+		)
+		plan default (cross, inner)
+	) jt;
+
+-- specific plan (p inner (pb cross pc))
+select
+	jt.*
+from
+	jsonb_table_test jtt,
+	json_table (
+		jtt.js,'strict $[*]' as p
+		columns (
+			n for ordinality,
+			a int path 'lax $.a' default -1 on empty,
+			nested path 'strict $.b[*]' as pb columns ( b int path '$' ),
+			nested path 'strict $.c[*]' as pc columns ( c int path '$' )
+		)
+		plan (p inner (pb cross pc))
+	) jt;
+
+-- default plan (outer, cross)
+select
+	jt.*
+from
+	jsonb_table_test jtt,
+	json_table (
+		jtt.js,'strict $[*]' as p
+		columns (
+			n for ordinality,
+			a int path 'lax $.a' default -1 on empty,
+			nested path 'strict $.b[*]' as pb columns ( b int path '$' ),
+			nested path 'strict $.c[*]' as pc columns ( c int path '$' )
+		)
+		plan default (outer, cross)
+	) jt;
+
+-- specific plan (p outer (pb cross pc))
+select
+	jt.*
+from
+	jsonb_table_test jtt,
+	json_table (
+		jtt.js,'strict $[*]' as p
+		columns (
+			n for ordinality,
+			a int path 'lax $.a' default -1 on empty,
+			nested path 'strict $.b[*]' as pb columns ( b int path '$' ),
+			nested path 'strict $.c[*]' as pc columns ( c int path '$' )
+		)
+		plan (p outer (pb cross pc))
+	) jt;
+
+
+select
+	jt.*, b1 + 100 as b
+from
+	json_table (jsonb
+		'[
+			{"a":  1,  "b": [[1, 10], [2], [3, 30, 300]], "c": [1, null, 2]},
+			{"a":  2,  "b": [10, 20], "c": [1, null, 2]},
+			{"x": "3", "b": [11, 22, 33, 44]}
+		 ]',
+		'$[*]' as p
+		columns (
+			n for ordinality,
+			a int path 'lax $.a' default -1 on error,
+			nested path 'strict $.b[*]' as pb columns (
+				b text format json path '$',
+				nested path 'strict $[*]' as pb1 columns (
+					b1 int path '$'
+				)
+			),
+			nested path 'strict $.c[*]' as pc columns (
+				c text format json path '$',
+				nested path 'strict $[*]' as pc1 columns (
+					c1 int path '$'
+				)
+			)
+		)
+		--plan default(outer, cross)
+		plan(p outer ((pb inner pb1) cross (pc outer pc1)))
+	) jt;
+
 -- Should succeed (JSON arguments are passed to root and nested paths)
 SELECT *
 FROM