Amazon Redshift will no longer support the creation of new Python UDFs starting Patch 198. Existing Python UDFs will continue to function until June 30, 2026. For more information, see the [ blog post ](https://amazonaws-china.com/blogs/big-data/amazon-redshift-python-user-defined-functions-will-reach-end-of-support-after-june-30-2026/). 

# IS\$1VARCHAR function
<a name="r_is_varchar"></a>

Checks whether a variable is a `VARCHAR`. The IS\$1VARCHAR function returns `true` for all strings. The function returns `false` for any other values.

The IS\$1VARCHAR function is a superset of the IS\$1CHAR function.

## Syntax
<a name="r_is_varchar-synopsis"></a>

```
IS_VARCHAR(super_expression)
```

## Arguments
<a name="r_is_varchar-arguments"></a>

*super\$1expression*  
A `SUPER` expression or column.

## Return type
<a name="r_is_varchar-returns"></a>

`BOOLEAN`

## Examples
<a name="r_is_varchar_example"></a>

To check if `abc` is a `VARCHAR` using the IS\$1VARCHAR function, use the following example.

```
CREATE TABLE t(s SUPER);

INSERT INTO t VALUES ('abc');

SELECT s, IS_VARCHAR(s) FROM t;

+-------+------------+
|   s   | is_varchar |
+-------+------------+
| "abc" | true       |
+-------+------------+
```