SPI_GETBINVAL(3)

🌸 NAME 🌸

Okay so this is the manual page for SPI_GETBINVAL(3), and the main character here is SPI_getbinval — it returns the binary value of the column you specify. Periodt. 💅

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

Datum SPI_getbinval(HeapTuple row, TupleDesc rowdesc, int colnumber,
                    bool * isnull)

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

So SPI_getbinval gives you the value of the column you picked, in the internal form — as type Datum. No extra packaging, no cute little wrapper, just the raw internal vibe. 💖

This function does not allocate new space for the datum. If it’s a pass-by-reference data type, the return value will be a pointer into the row you passed in. That’s important, bestie — it’s pointing into the row, not making a fresh copy. 👑

🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

• HeapTuple row — the input row you’re examining. Like, the row in question. 🔍
• TupleDesc rowdesc — the input row description.
• int colnumber — the column number, and the count starts at 1. Not zero. Don’t come for me, that’s just how it is. 💀
• bool * isnull — flag for a null value in the column.

💜 RETURN VALUE 💜

You get the binary value of the column back. The variable pointed to by isnull is set to true if the column is null, else it’s set to false. Easy. 🫶

And if something goes wrong? SPI_result is set to SPI_ERROR_NOATTRIBUTE on error. Noted, bestie. 😭

Stay iconic and may your columns never surprise you 💅 — this page is from PostgreSQL 15.19, dated 2026, and its manual name is SPI_GETBINVAL(3). Bye~ 🎀✨