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Clarify Structure

Makes implicit SQL structure explicit with parentheses. Enabled by default.

Two structural clarifications:

  • AND/OR precedence: wraps AND groups inside OR in parens
  • Set operations: wraps each operand of UNION/INTERSECT/EXCEPT in parens with ) OPERATOR ( hinges

AND/OR precedence​

SQL precedence: AND binds tighter than OR. a OR b AND c means a OR (b AND c). This transform makes the grouping visible.

SELECT a FROM t WHERE x = 1 OR y = 2 AND z = 3
select a from t where x = 1 or (y = 2 and z = 3)

Without clarifyStructure​

SELECT a FROM t WHERE x = 1 OR y = 2 AND z = 3
select a from t where x = 1 or y = 2 and z = 3

Set operations — UNION ALL​

Each operand wrapped in parens. The ) UNION ALL ( hinge stays on one line.

SELECT customer_id, name FROM active_customers WHERE status = 'active' UNION ALL SELECT customer_id, name FROM archived_customers WHERE status = 'archived'
(select customer_id, name from active_customers where status = 'active') union all (
  select customer_id, name
  from archived_customers
  where status = 'archived'
)

Short UNION ALL collapses to one line​

SELECT a FROM t1 UNION ALL SELECT b FROM t2
(select a from t1) union all (select b from t2)

Three-way set operation​

SELECT a FROM t1 UNION ALL SELECT b FROM t2 INTERSECT SELECT c FROM t3
(select a from t1) union all (select b from t2) intersect (select c from t3)

Without clarifyStructure — UNION ALL trails​

SELECT a FROM t1 UNION ALL SELECT b FROM t2
select a from t1 union all select b from t2

Set operations inside CTE​

WITH combined AS (SELECT a FROM t1 UNION ALL SELECT b FROM t2) SELECT * FROM combined
with combined as ((select a from t1) union all (select b from t2))
select *
from combined