---
title: 'Expression Functions'
description: 'Transform values inline inside {{...}} references — round, format dates, branch on conditions, and more.'
---
# Expression Functions

Anywhere a field accepts `{{...}}` data references, you can also call **functions**
to transform the value inline — no extra Transform node needed:

```
{{round(trigger.data.amount, 2)}}
{{if(trigger.data.vip, "gold", "standard")}}
{{upper(trim(trigger.data.name))}}
{{formatDate(trigger.data.created_at, "YYYY-MM-DD")}}
```

Functions nest freely, take data paths, quoted strings, numbers, `true`/`false`/`null`
as arguments, and follow the same type rules as plain references: a field that is
exactly one `{{...}}` expression keeps the result's real type (number stays number);
mixed text stringifies it. If an expression can't be parsed or a value has the wrong
type, it resolves to empty — the same as a missing field — never a crash.

Find them in the **ƒ Functions** button on the variable-picker toolbar (inserting
drops `{{name()}}` with the parentheses ready to fill).

## General

| Function | Does |
|---|---|
| `if(condition, then, else)` | Returns *then* when the condition is truthy (empty string, 0, false, null count as falsy). |
| `ifempty(value, fallback)` | The fallback when the value is missing or `""`. |
| `coalesce(a, b, …)` | The first argument that isn't missing. |
| `switch(value, case1, out1, …, default?)` | Compares the value against each case; returns the matching output. |

## Math

| Function | Does |
|---|---|
| `round(number, digits?)` · `floor` · `ceil` · `abs` | Rounding + absolute value. |
| `sum(array)` · `avg(array)` · `min(array)` · `max(array)` | Aggregate an array of numbers. |

## Text

| Function | Does |
|---|---|
| `trim` · `lower` · `upper` · `capitalize` | Whitespace + case. |
| `replace(text, find, replacement)` | Replace every occurrence. |
| `substring(text, start, end?)` · `length(text\|array)` | Slicing + length. |
| `split(text, separator)` · `join(array, separator)` | Between strings and arrays. |

## Date & time

| Function | Does |
|---|---|
| `now()` · `timestamp()` | Current time (ISO string / epoch ms). |
| `formatDate(date, "YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss")` | Format any date value (UTC). |
| `addDays(date, days)` | Shift by whole days (negative works). |
| `parseDate(text)` | Normalize a date string to ISO. |

## Arrays

| Function | Does |
|---|---|
| `first(array)` · `last(array)` · `count(array)` | Item access + count. |
| `distinct(array)` · `flatten(array)` | De-duplicate / flatten one level. |
| `toJson(value)` · `fromJson(text)` | To/from JSON strings. |

## Gotchas

- **No arithmetic operators** — `{{a + b}}` is not an expression; use the functions
  (`sum`, or a Transform node for complex math).
- **Function names are fixed** — an unknown name resolves to empty rather than erroring.
- Date/time **system variables** (`{{$now}}`, `{{$today}}`, …) still work and can be
  passed into functions: `{{formatDate($now, "DD/MM")}}`.