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# PostgreSQL INITCAP() Function

**Summary**: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the PostgreSQL `INITCAP()` function to convert a string to a proper case.

## Introduction to PostgreSQL INITCAP() function

The `INITCAP()` function converts the first letter of each word in a string to uppercase and the rest to lowercase. In other words, the `INITCAP()` function converts a string to a proper case.

Technically, words are defined as sequences of alphanumeric characters separated by non-alphanumeric characters.

Here's the basic syntax of the `INITCAP()` function:

```sql
INITCAP(text)
```

In this syntax, the `text` is a string you want to convert to a proper case. Its type can be `CHAR`, `VARCHAR`, or `TEXT`.

The `INITCAP()` returns the text in a proper case. It returns `NULL` if the `text` is `NULL`.

To convert a string to lowercase, you use the [`LOWER()`](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/postgresql-lower) function. To convert a string to uppercase, you use the [`UPPER()`](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/postgresql-upper) function.

## PostgreSQL INITCAP() function examples

Let's explore some examples of using the `INITCAP()` function.

### 1) Basic PostgreSQL INITCAP() example

The following example uses the INITCAP() to convert the string 'hello john' to the proper case:

```sql
SELECT INITCAP('hello john');
```

Output:

```text
  initcap
------------
 Hello John
(1 row)
```

### 2) Using PostgreSQL INITCAP() with table data example

In practice, you often use the `INITCAP()` function to format blog titles, author names, and so on. For example:

First, [create a new table](../postgresql-tutorial/postgresql-create-table) called `blog_posts` and insert some rows into it:

```sql
CREATE TABLE blog_posts(
    id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
    title VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL
);

INSERT INTO blog_posts(title)
VALUES
    ('getting started with postgresql'),
    ('advanced postgresql queries'),
    ('postgresql performance optimization'),
    ('postgresql data modeling techniques'),
    ('using postgresql in web development')
RETURNING *;
```

Output:

```text
 id |                title
----+-------------------------------------
  1 | getting started with postgresql
  2 | advanced postgresql queries
  3 | postgresql performance optimization
  4 | postgresql data modeling techniques
  5 | using postgresql in web development
(5 rows)
```

Second, use the `INITCAP()` function to [update](../postgresql-tutorial/postgresql-update) the titles in the `blog_posts` table to the proper case:

```sql
UPDATE blog_posts
SET title = INITCAP(title)
RETURNING *;
```

Output:

```
 id |                title
----+-------------------------------------
  1 | Getting Started With Postgresql
  2 | Advanced Postgresql Queries
  3 | Postgresql Performance Optimization
  4 | Postgresql Data Modeling Techniques
  5 | Using Postgresql In Web Development
(5 rows)


UPDATE 5
```

## Summary

- Use the PostgreSQL `INITCAP()` function to convert a text to the proper case.

---

## Related docs (String Functions)

- [ASCII](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/ascii)
- [CHR](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/chr)
- [CONCAT](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/concat-function)
- [CONCAT_WS](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/concat_ws)
- [FORMAT](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/format)
- [LEFT](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/left)
- [LENGTH](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/length-function)
- [LOWER](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/lower)
- [LPAD](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/lpad)
- [LTRIM](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/ltrim)
- [MD5](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/md5)
- [POSITION](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/position)
- [REGEXP_MATCHES](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/regexp_matches)
- [REGEXP_REPLACE](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/regexp_replace)
- [REPEAT](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/repeat)
- [REVERSE](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/reverse)
- [REPLACE](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/replace)
- [RIGHT](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/right)
- [RPAD](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/rpad)
- [RTRIM](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/rtrim)
- [SPLIT_PART](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/split_part)
- [SUBSTRING](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/substring)
- [TO_CHAR](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/to_char)
- [TO_NUMBER](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/to_number)
- [TRANSLATE](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/translate)
- [TRIM](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/trim-function)
- [UPPER](https://neon.com/postgresql/string-functions/upper)