---
title: 'PostgreSQL INITCAP() Function'
page_title: 'PostgreSQL INITCAP() Function'
page_description: 'In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the PostgreSQL INITCAP() function to convert a string to the proper case.'
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updatedOn: '2024-01-29T01:36:51+00:00'
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---

**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:

```sqlsql
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()`](postgresql-lower) function. To convert a string to uppercase, you use the [`UPPER()`](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:

```
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:

```
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.