How to override a in-built function in databricks

[Jerry01]

I am trying to override is_member() in-built function in such a way that, it always return true. How to do it in databricks using sql or python?

[Kaniz]

Hi @Jerry01, To override the is_member() built-in function in Databricks so that it always returns true, you can follow these steps:

1. Python Approach:

   • Unfortunately, Databricks does not directly allow you to override built-in functions like is_member(). However, you can create a custom Python function that mimics the behavior you want.
   • Define a Python function that always returns True when called.
   • For example:

     def my_custom_is_member(group_name):
         return True
     

   • Use this custom function in your code instead of the built-in is_member().

2. SQL Approach:

   • Databricks provides the is_member() function for checking group membership. However, you cannot directly override it.
   • Instead, consider using the is_account_group_member() function, which checks if the session user is ...¹. This function is more suitable for your use case.
   • Example SQL query:

     SELECT is_account_group_member('my_group_name') AS is_member;
     

   • If you still want to override the behavior of is_member(), you can create a custom UDF (User-Defined Function) in Python or Scala and use it in your SQL queries.

Remember that overriding built-in functions should be done carefully, as it can have unintended consequences. Ensure that your custom implementation aligns with your specific requirements and doesn’t break existing functionality.