Column definitions in ROWS FROM() with multiple unnest calls

Question

I would like to use multiple arrays within a select clause. The obvious one didn't work and postgresql points to ROWS FROM() ...

select * from unnest(array[1,2], array[3,4]) as (a int, b int);

ERROR:

UNNEST() with multiple arguments cannot have a column definition list  
LINE 1: select * from unnest(array[1,2], array[3,4]) as (a int, b in...
                                                         ^
HINT:  Use separate UNNEST() calls inside ROWS FROM(), and attach a column definition list to each one.

...

select * from rows from (unnest(array[1,2]), unnest(array[3,4])) as (a int, b int);

ERROR:

ROWS FROM() with multiple functions cannot have a column definition list  
LINE 1: ...from (unnest(array[1,2]), unnest(array[3,4])) as (a int, b i...
                                                             ^
HINT:  Put a separate column definition list for each function inside ROWS FROM().

The manual explains this as well but how to define these 'separate column definitions'?

Answer 1

You can define the column names without their types using just AS t(a, b) :

#= SELECT * FROM unnest(array[1,2], array[3,4,5]) AS t(a, b);
 a | b
---+---
 1 | 3
 2 | 4
 ∅ | 5

To define types, do it on the arrays themselves:

#= SELECT a / 2 AS half_a, b / 2 AS half_b
   FROM unnest(array[1,2]::float[], array[3,4,5]::integer[]) AS t(a, b);
 half_a | half_b
--------+--------
    0.5 |      1
      1 |      2
      ∅ |      2