Lookup UDF Join

For more information about using JOINs with the multi-stage query engine, see JOINs.

Lookup UDF Join is only supported with the single-stage query engine (v1). For more information about using JOINs with the multi-stage query engine, see JOINs.

Lookup UDF is used to get dimension data via primary key from a dimension table allowing a decoration join functionality. Lookup UDF can only be used with a dimension table in Pinot.

Syntax

The UDF function syntax is listed as below:

lookupUDFSpec:
    LOOKUP
    '('
    '''dimTable'''
    '''dimColToLookup'''
    [ '''dimJoinKey''', factJoinKey ]*
    ')'
  • dimTable Name of the dim table to perform the lookup on.

  • dimColToLookUp The column name of the dim table to be retrieved to decorate our result.

  • dimJoinKey The column name on which we want to perform the lookup i.e. the join column name for dim table.

  • factJoinKey The column name on which we want to perform the lookup against e.g. the join column name for fact table

Noted that:

  1. all the dim-table-related expressions are expressed as literal strings, this is the LOOKUP UDF syntax limitation: we cannot express column identifier which doesn't exist in the query's main table, which is the factTable table.

  2. the syntax definition of [ '''dimJoinKey''', factJoinKey ]* indicates that if there are multiple dim partition columns, there should be multiple join key pair expressed.

Examples

Here are some of the examples

Single-partition-key-column Example

Consider the table baseballStats

Column
Type

playerID

STRING

yearID

INT

teamID

STRING

league

STRING

playerName

STRING

playerStint

INT

numberOfGames

INT

numberOfGamesAsBatter

INT

AtBatting

INT

runs

INT

and dim table dimBaseballTeams

Column
Type

teamID

STRING

teamName

STRING

teamAddress

STRING

several acceptable queries are:

Dim-Fact LOOKUP example

SELECT 
  playerName, 
  teamID, 
  LOOKUP('dimBaseballTeams', 'teamName', 'teamID', teamID) AS teamName, 
  LOOKUP('dimBaseballTeams', 'teamAddress', 'teamID', teamID) AS teamAddress
FROM baseballStats 
playerName
teamID
teamName
teamAddress

David Allan

BOS

Boston Red Caps/Beaneaters (from 1876–1900) or Boston Red Sox (since 1953)

4 Jersey Street, Boston, MA

David Allan

CHA

null

null

David Allan

SEA

Seattle Mariners (since 1977) or Seattle Pilots (1969)

1250 First Avenue South, Seattle, WA

David Allan

SEA

Seattle Mariners (since 1977) or Seattle Pilots (1969)

1250 First Avenue South, Seattle, WA

Self LOOKUP example

SELECT 
  teamID, 
  teamName AS nameFromLocal,
  LOOKUP('dimBaseballTeams', 'teamName', 'teamID', teamID) AS nameFromLookup
FROM dimBaseballTeams
teamID
nameFromLocal
nameFromLookup

ANA

Anaheim Angels

Anaheim Angels

ARI

Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks

ATL

Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves

BAL

Baltimore Orioles (original- 1901–1902 current- since 1954)

Baltimore Orioles (original- 1901–1902 current- since 1954)

Complex-partition-key-columns Example

Consider a single dimension table with schema:

BILLING SCHEMA

Column
Type

customerId

INT

creditHistory

STRING

firstName

STRING

lastName

STRING

isCarOwner

BOOLEAN

city

STRING

maritalStatus

STRING

buildingType

STRING

missedPayment

STRING

billingMonth

STRING

Self LOOKUP example

select 
  customerId,
  missedPayment, 
  LOOKUP('billing', 'city', 'customerId', customerId, 'creditHistory', creditHistory) AS lookedupCity 
from billing
customerId
missedPayment
lookedupCity

341

Paid

Palo Alto

374

Paid

Mountain View

398

Paid

Palo Alto

427

Paid

Cupertino

435

Paid

Cupertino

Usage FAQ

  • The data return type of the UDF will be that of the dimColToLookUp column type.

  • when multiple primary key columns are used for the dimension table (e.g. composite primary key), ensure that the order of keys appearing in the lookup() UDF is the same as the order defined in the primaryKeyColumns from the dimension table schema.