PostgreSQL 18 reference · String Functions

PostgreSQL INITCAP() Function

Capitalize the first letter of each word and lowercase the rest, as in 'ada lovelace' to 'Ada Lovelace'.

PostgreSQL 18

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Syntax

initcap(string)

Parameter	Description
`string`	The input text.

Text in title case.

Title case

SELECT initcap('the QUICK brown fox') AS title;

Output

        title
---------------------
 The Quick Brown Fox
(1 row)

Run this on your computer — see “Get Started” for setup.

Words split on non-letters

SELECT initcap('mary-jane o''neil') AS name;

Output

       name
------------------
 Mary-Jane O'Neil
(1 row)

Run this on your computer — see “Get Started” for setup.

UPPER() · Convert a string to uppercase using the database's locale, including accented letters such as é.
LOWER() · Convert a string to lowercase using the database's locale, so letters such as É and Ü work too.
SQL String Functions · tutorial