# Using APEX_STRING.SPLIT in SQL
First...have I mentioned how much I don't like the blogging platform that I am using (hashnode)? Well, I don't like it. I don't like it for many reasons, but today just highlights one more reason. I'm trying to make use of the freesql embed that allows me to have a SQL editor right on the page. It's quite cool. You can [read about it here](https://www.thatjeffsmith.com/archive/2025/06/database-news-june-edition-23ai-and-some-livesql/). Unfortunately, after way too much time trying to get it to work today on hashnode I have given up. Instead I will just give you the code you *would* use if it worked. So, on to the blog post, which is hosted on hashnode...for now.
In APEX Instant Tips episode 170 Marwa and I showed how to **find the matching elements of two delimited strings**. A lot of people will automatically turn to PL/SQL to do this kind of thing, but it is really just an inner join in SQL. We can make use of APEX\_STRING.SPLIT to do this in a single SQL statement. Try it out below:
```sql
select column_value
from apex_string.split('a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h',',') s1
join apex_string.split('g,h,i,j',',') s2 using (column_value)
```
The code to embed a SQL editor:
```html
```
Or just [click here t](https://freesql.com/embedded/?layout=vertical&compressed_code=H4sIAAAAAAAAE23NQQrCMBRF0XlX8WZp4VXQLYhjl1Bi%252FE1%252FSZPSn4jLdyQ4cH4P1yRJqAgltS1PL5%252BadMB8lA1%252Bl%252Fdk9dAcT7Ynrb3zfDDwSeHMyMXR0Q2wcwesRfM%252FErlQuX7TC5ppjuh%252Fj8M43u7XD%252FaNIwWLAAAA&&code_language=PL_SQL&code_format=false)o try it out.
**Everything that does not match**
```sql
select column_value
from apex_string.split('a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h',',') s1
minus
select column_value
from apex_string.split('g,h,i,j',',') s2
order by 1
```
The code to embed a SQL editor:
```html
```
Or [click here](https://freesql.com/embedded/?layout=vertical&compressed_code=H4sIAAAAAAAAE5XMQQ7CIBAF0D2n%252BDs0%252BTWpVzCuPUJD6ZRigDYMGL29Kw%252FgO8BTSeIb%252FJ56LtPLpS4GWOue4Q55T9pqLOGiR4rtZB1nei4UrgzcLC3tGTqaHEtXwOhfXeDGyOevucLsdZGK%252BYNxGO6P2xdN70yOngAAAA%253D%253D&code_language=PL_SQL&code_format=false) to try it out.
**Everything that is in either list, but not both lists**
```sql
select s1.column_value s1_column_value, s2.column_value s2_column_value
from apex_string.split('a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h',',') s1
full outer join apex_string.split('g,h,i,j',',') s2 on s1.column_value = s2.column_value
where s1.column_value is null
or s2.column_value is null
order by 1, 2
```
The code to embed a SQL editor:
```html
```
Or [click here](https://freesql.com/embedded/?layout=vertical&compressed_code=H4sIAAAAAAAAE22POw6DMBBEe04xHYm0INl9qih1joD4LGBkbOS187l9RBElgUy32vekGWHLbYSosvU2za661TYxRFXfN0H0BtA%252FQAb0wc%252BoF35UEoNxQymLNfGQ19RQSx0x9TTQmFNO%252BRGiViVZC58iB0zeuH%252F2QCMZmt6Whne7sqdtuwy4jxx4RxqBS9ZmWOPDbtXn70PHAc0TiqCL4nI9vwAl7DC2KgEAAA%253D%253D&code_language=PL_SQL&code_format=false) to try it out.
**Everything that is in either list, but only show once**
```sql
select column_value
from apex_string.split('a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h',',') s1
union
select column_value
from apex_string.split('g,h,i,j',',') s2
order by 1
```
The code to embed a SQL editor:
```html
```
Or [click here](https://freesql.com/embedded/?layout=vertical&compressed_code=H4sIAAAAAAAAE5XMQQ7CIBAF0D2n%252BDs0%252BTWpVzCuPUJD6ZRiKDQMGL29Kw%252FgO8BTSeIbfEl9z9PLpS4GWGvZ4Q55T9pqzOGiR4rtZB1nei4UrgzcLC3tGTqanmPJgNG%252FusCNkc9fc4UpdZGK%252BYNxGO6P2xfzRoOdngAAAA%253D%253D&code_language=PL_SQL&code_format=false) to try it out.
There we have it, yet another blog post about the magic of APEX\_STRING. Truly one of the great hidden features of APEX.