array_iff

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

The array_iff function in Axiom Processing Language (APL) allows you to create arrays based on a condition. It returns an array with elements from two specified arrays, choosing each element from the first array when a condition is met and from the second array otherwise. This function is useful for scenarios where you need to evaluate a series of conditions across multiple datasets, especially in log analysis, trace data, and other applications requiring conditional element selection within arrays.

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, array manipulation based on conditions typically requires using conditional functions or eval expressions. APL’s array_iff function lets you directly select elements from one array or another based on a condition, offering more streamlined array manipulation.

Splunk example

eval selected_array=if(condition, array1, array2)

ANSI SQL users

In ANSI SQL, conditionally selecting elements from arrays often requires complex CASE statements or functions. With APL’s array_iff function, you can directly compare arrays and conditionally populate them, simplifying array-based operations.

SQL example

CASE WHEN condition THEN array1 ELSE array2 END

Usage

Syntax

array_iff(condition_array, array1, array2)

Parameters

• condition_array: An array of boolean values, where each element determines whether to choose the corresponding element from array1 or array2.
• array1: The array to select elements from when the corresponding condition_array element is true.
• array2: The array to select elements from when the corresponding condition_array element is false.

Returns

An array where each element is selected from array1 if the corresponding condition_array element is true, and from array2 otherwise.

Use case examples

• Log analysis
• OpenTelemetry traces
• Security logs

The array_iff function can help filter log data conditionally, such as choosing specific durations based on HTTP status codes.

Query

['sample-http-logs']
| order by _time desc
| limit 1000
| summarize is_ok = make_list(status == '200'), request_duration = make_list(req_duration_ms)
| project ok_request_duration = array_iff(is_ok, request_duration, 0)

Run in Playground

Output

ok_request_duration
[0.3150485097707766, 0, 0.21691408087847264, 0, 0.2757618582190533]

This example filters the req_duration_ms field to include only durations for the most recent 1,000 requests with status 200, replacing others with 0.

The array_iff function can help filter log data conditionally, such as choosing specific durations based on HTTP status codes.

Query

['sample-http-logs']
| order by _time desc
| limit 1000
| summarize is_ok = make_list(status == '200'), request_duration = make_list(req_duration_ms)
| project ok_request_duration = array_iff(is_ok, request_duration, 0)

Run in Playground

Output

ok_request_duration
[0.3150485097707766, 0, 0.21691408087847264, 0, 0.2757618582190533]

This example filters the req_duration_ms field to include only durations for the most recent 1,000 requests with status 200, replacing others with 0.

With OpenTelemetry trace data, you can use array_iff to filter spans based on the service type, such as selecting durations for server spans and setting others to zero.

Query

['otel-demo-traces']
| order by _time desc
| limit 1000
| summarize is_server = make_list(kind == 'server'), duration_list = make_list(duration)
| project  server_durations = array_iff(is_server, duration_list, 0)

Run in Playground

Output

server_durations
[“45.632µs”, “54.622µs”, 0, “34.051µs”]

In this example, array_iff selects durations only for server spans, setting non-server spans to 0.

In security logs, array_iff can be used to focus on specific cities in which HTTP requests originated, such as showing response durations for certain cities and excluding others.

Query

['sample-http-logs'] 
| limit 1000
| summarize is_london = make_list(['geo.city'] == "London"), request_duration = make_list(req_duration_ms)
| project london_duration = array_iff(is_london, request_duration, 0)

Run in Playground

Output

london_duration
[100, 0, 250]

This example filters the req_duration_ms array to show durations for requests from London, with non-matching cities having 0 as duration.

List of related functions

• array_slice: Extracts a subset of elements from an array.
• array_concat: Combines multiple arrays.
• array_rotate_right: Rotates array elements to the right by a specified number of positions.