---
title: SQL macros
description: Reuse SQL expressions with the shared macro library and understand when a macro is injected.
species: guide
---
# SQL macros

Call a shared macro like any other SQL function. Supernova injects a macro definition only when the query references its name, which keeps unrelated queries unchanged.

```sql
select
  id,
  initcap(lower(property_company)) as company_name
from titan.hubspot.contacts
where not _deleted
```

## The shared library

Shared macros live in `src/queries/macros/`. The filename is the callable name. The current `initcap` macro splits text into words, uppercases each first character, lowercases its remainder, and joins the pieces.

Its definition uses ordinary dialect syntax:

```sql
create macro initcap(text) as
  list_reduce(
    list_transform(
      regexp_extract_all(text, '(\w+\W*)'),
      word -> upper(word[1]) || lower(word[2:])
    ),
    (left_value, right_value) -> left_value || right_value,
    ''
  );
```

## Resolution

Macro detection happens before the query runs. A reference to `initcap(` loads that definition for the session. Macro names do not become lake tables, and their definitions cannot access a different organization.

Use [typed functions](/v2/docs/typesql/macros-and-functions) when callers need parameter and return contracts. A SQL macro remains useful for established untyped helpers and compatibility with DuckDB syntax.