Golang BigQuery: How to Insert an Array into a Table

Learn how to insert arrays into BigQuery tables using the Golang BigQuery library with this simple guide. Follow the steps to solve common issues related to inserting array values.
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Golang BigQuery: Inserting Arrays into Tables

If you're working with Google's BigQuery and the Golang client library, you might encounter challenges when trying to insert arrays into your tables. This article will guide you through a specific case of inserting an array into a BigQuery table with a Repeated column, helping you understand and resolve the issue effectively.

Understanding the Problem

In your case, you have defined a BigQuery table schema that includes an array field for quality information. The schema looks as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Despite successfully creating and populating your record, you noticed that when you inserted the records into BigQuery, the quality column appeared as NULL. No errors were returned, and you confirmed that the array had elements, raising two critical questions:

Why isn't the quality field being populated in BigQuery?

Is there a better way to handle the schema definition and record insertion?

Solution Breakdown

Step 1: Recognize the Need for Schema Inference

One effective method to avoid issues with manually defined schemas is to use schema inference provided by the BigQuery library. Instead of defining your schema explicitly, you can allow BigQuery to infer the schema from your record struct:

Replace your manual schema definition:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

With schema inference using the following code:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This approach can automatically adapt your schema based on the structs you provide, minimizing the chances of schema-related issues.

Step 2: Update the Record Insertion Logic

Once you have set up the schema inference, keep your record creation and insertion logic as is. Here’s how you can create a record and insert it into BigQuery:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Validate Results

After executing the insertion logic, check your BigQuery table. The quality column should correctly show the values from the Quality field in your records. If it still shows as NULL, ensure the qualityArray is populated correctly before the record creation step.

Conclusion

Inserting arrays into a BigQuery table using the Go client library may initially seem tricky, but with the right schema handling, it becomes a straightforward task. By leveraging schema inference and ensuring that your record data is correctly structured, you can troubleshoot and resolve common issues effectively.

If you have any further questions or need assistance with your Golang and BigQuery implementation, feel free to reach out in the comments below!