Where is MySQL's the POINT() function documented?

Question

It seems like besides using WKT and the GeomFromText function, MySQL support an other method of creating geometries. The function POINT() is used in the examples in the documentation, but I can not find where the function itself is documented.

This one is pretty straightforward, but I wonder if there are any other functions which can be used as well, instead of parsing WKT strings.

`POINT` is a *type* not a function. It encapsulates an x and y value pair. — Brian Roach, Jul 13 '13 at 21:21
@BrianRoach In the examples it is called as a function. Can every *type* be used like that? — vbence, Jul 13 '13 at 21:31
Sorry, I get the disconnect now - posted a full answer that I hope answers the question and links to the appropriate docs. — Brian Roach, Jul 13 '13 at 22:39

Brian Roach · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-14T08:34:14.723

5

MySQL has a spacial data type POINT. It's a type that encapsulates an x and y value pair to represent a coordinate in some space.

You can create a table with a column of that type via:

CREATE TABLE my_table (pt POINT);

For every spacial type there's a "constructor" function(s) to create a value of that type. For example, Point(x,y) - it returns a value of type POINT to be stored in the db, used in another function, etc:

INSERT INTO my_table (pt) VALUES (Point(1,2));

The docs that cover the functions for creating values of these types (incl. the Point() function) can be found at Creating spacial values and the section of the manual that it's in covers spacial types in general.

edited Jul 14 '13 at 08:34

answered Jul 13 '13 at 22:29

Brian Roach

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Thanks. These were the function I was looking for. Please add #gis-mysql-specific-functions to the link for easier reference. – vbence Jul 14 '13 at 08:24
Is it true that POINT() can not be used in views? – Sam Wilson Jul 29 '15 at 06:33

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 13 '13 at 21:21

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POINT is not a function, it's a data type.

You use it like POINT(100, 20) to give you a coordinate of x = 100, y = 20.

It is documented at 12.16.2.3 Class Point:

A Point is a geometry that represents a single location in coordinate space.

Point Examples

Imagine a large-scale map of the world with many cities. A Point object could represent each city.

On a city map, a Point object could represent a bus stop.

answered Jul 13 '13 at 21:21

Danny Beckett

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Thanks for the link. I still can't see the parameters for the 'constructor'. Can `LineString()` be called as a function as well? In that case how the parameters should look like? – vbence Jul 13 '13 at 21:29
@vbence There are only 2 parameters - `x, y` – Danny Beckett Jul 13 '13 at 21:56
`Point()` is the obvious one to figure out. In the meantime I learned that `LineString(Point(), Point())` is also valid. But: I'm still looking for a documentation about these *constructor(?)* functions. – vbence Jul 14 '13 at 08:22

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 13 '13 at 21:22

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This is where MySQL documents Point class.

A Point is a geometry that represents a single location in coordinate space.

answered Jul 13 '13 at 21:22

AllTooSir

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Uday Hiwarale · Answer 4 · 2019-02-26T10:56:43.547

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It is documented here under title 12.16.5 MySQL-Specific Functions That Create Geometry Values

If you need to understand this constructor function and other information on Spatial Type in MySQL, follow my article on Medium Playing with Geometry/Spatial Data Types in MySQL

edited Feb 26 '19 at 10:56

answered Feb 22 '19 at 14:24

Uday Hiwarale

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Where is MySQL's the POINT() function documented?

4 Answers4