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> Reference material for ST_DISTANCE function

# ST_DISTANCE

The `ST_DISTANCE` function calculates the shortest distance, measured as a geodesic arc between two `GEOGRAPHY` objects, measured in meters. It models the earth as a perfect sphere with a fixed radius of 6,371,008 meters.

If either input is empty, `ST_DISTANCE` will return `NULL`.

## Syntax

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"css-variables","dark":"css-variables"}}
ST_DISTANCE(<geo1>, <geo2>)
```

## Parameters

| Parameter | Description                                                      | Supported input types |
| :-------- | :--------------------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------- |
| `<geo1>`  | The first `GEOGRAPHY` object to calculate the distance between.  | `GEOGRAPHY`           |
| `<geo2>`  | The second `GEOGRAPHY` object to calculate the distance between. | `GEOGRAPHY`           |

## Return Type

`ST_DISTANCE` returns a value of type `DOUBLE PRECISION`.

## Example

The following code example constructs two Points from their WKT representations: One at the Statue of Liberty in New York City, and one at the Big Ben in London. It then returns the shortest distance between them, as measured as a geodesic arc, in meters:

<div className="query-window">
  ```
  SELECT ST_DISTANCE(
  ST_GEOGFROMTEXT('POINT(-74.04447010745835 40.68924450077543)'),
  ST_GEOGFROMTEXT('POINT(-0.12418551935155021 51.50086274661804)')
  ) AS result;
  ```

  | result <span>double null</span> |
  | :------------------------------ |
  | 5574863.932096738               |

  <p><span>Rows: 1</span><span>Execution time: 5.02ms</span></p>
</div>