The correct function to use with theCOPY INTO < location > statement to convert rows from a relational table into a single variant column and to unload rows into a JSON file isTO VARIANT. TheTO VARIANTfunction is used to explicitly convert a value of any supported data type into a VARIANT data type. This is particularly useful when needing to aggregate multiple columns or complex data structures into a single JSON-formatted string, which can then be unloaded into a file.
In the context of unloading data, theCOPY INTO < location > statement combined withTO VARIANTenables the conversion of structured data from Snowflake tables into a semi-structured VARIANT format, typically JSON, which can then be efficiently exported and stored. This approach is often utilized for data integration scenarios, backups, or when data needs to be shared in a format that is easily consumed by various applications or services that support JSON.
References:
Snowflake Documentation on Data Unloading: Unloading Data
Snowflake Documentation on VARIANT Data Type: Working with JSON