array_slice

This page explains how to use the array_slice function in APL.

The array_slice function in APL extracts a subset of elements from an array, based on specified start and end indices. This function is useful when you want to analyze or transform a portion of data within arrays, such as trimming logs, filtering specific events, or working with trace data in OpenTelemetry logs.

For users of other query languages

If you come from other query languages, this section explains how to adjust your existing queries to achieve the same results in APL.

Splunk SPL users

In Splunk SPL, you can use mvindex to extract elements from an array. APL’s array_slice is similar but more expressive, allowing you to specify slices with optional bounds.

Splunk example

| eval sliced_array=mvindex(my_array, 1, 3)

ANSI SQL users

In ANSI SQL, arrays are often handled using JSON functions or window functions, requiring workarounds to slice arrays. In APL, array_slice directly handles arrays, making operations more concise.

SQL example

SELECT JSON_EXTRACT(my_array, '$[1:3]') AS sliced_array FROM my_table

Usage

Syntax

array_slice(array, start, end)

Parameters

Parameter	Description
array	The input array to slice.
start	The starting index of the slice (inclusive). If negative, it is counted from the end of the array.
end	The ending index of the slice (exclusive). If negative, it is counted from the end of the array.

Returns

An array containing the elements from the specified slice. If the indices are out of bounds, it adjusts to return valid elements without error.

Use case example

Filter spans from trace data to analyze a specific range of events.

Query

['otel-demo-traces']
| where array_length(events) > 4
| extend sliced_events = array_slice(events, -3, -1)

Run in Playground

Output

events

[
  {
    "timestamp": 1734001336443987200,
    "attributes": null,
    "name": "prepared"
  },
  {
    "attributes": {
      "feature_flag.provider_name": "flagd",
      "feature_flag.variant": "off",
      "feature_flag.key": "paymentServiceUnreachable"
    },
    "name": "feature_flag",
    "timestamp": 1734001336444001800
  },
  {
    "name": "charged",
    "timestamp": 1734001336445970200,
    "attributes": {
      "custom": {
        "app.payment.transaction.id": "49567406-21f4-41aa-bab2-69911c055753"
      }
    }
  },
  {
    "name": "shipped",
    "timestamp": 1734001336446488600,
    "attributes": {
      "custom": {
        "app.shipping.tracking.id": "9a3b7a5c-aa41-4033-917f-50cb7360a2a4"
      }
    }
  },
  {
    "attributes": {
      "feature_flag.variant": "off",
      "feature_flag.key": "kafkaQueueProblems",
      "feature_flag.provider_name": "flagd"
    },
    "name": "feature_flag",
    "timestamp": 1734001336461096700
  }
]

sliced_events

[
  {
    "name": "charged",
    "timestamp": 1734001336445970200,
    "attributes": {
      "custom": {
        "app.payment.transaction.id": "49567406-21f4-41aa-bab2-69911c055753"
      }
    }
  },
  {
    "name": "shipped",
    "timestamp": 1734001336446488600,
    "attributes": {
      "custom": {
        "app.shipping.tracking.id": "9a3b7a5c-aa41-4033-917f-50cb7360a2a4"
      }
    }
  }
]

Slices the last three events from the events array, excluding the final one.

List of related functions

• array_concat: Combines multiple arrays.
• array_reverse: Reverses the order of array elements.
• array_shift_right: Shifts array elements to the right.

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