ST_Overlaps
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Name

ST_Overlaps — Tests if two geometries have the same dimension and intersect, but each has at least one point not in the other

Synopsis

boolean ST_Overlaps(geometry A, geometry B);

Description

Returns TRUE if geometry A and B "spatially overlap". Two geometries overlap if they have the same dimension, their interiors intersect in that dimension. and each has at least one point inside the other (or equivalently, neither one covers the other). The overlaps relation is symmetric and irreflexive.

In mathematical terms: ST_Overlaps(A, B) ⇔ ( dim(A) = dim(B) = dim( Int(A) ⋂ Int(B) )) ∧ (A ⋂ B ≠ A) ∧ (A ⋂ B ≠ B)

[Note]

This function automatically includes a bounding box comparison that makes use of any spatial indexes that are available on the geometries. To avoid index use, use the function _ST_Overlaps.

Performed by the GEOS module

Enhanced: 3.0.0 enabled support for GEOMETRYCOLLECTION

NOTE: this is the "allowable" version that returns a boolean, not an integer.

This method implements the OGC Simple Features Implementation Specification for SQL 1.1. s2.1.1.2 // s2.1.13.3

This method implements the SQL/MM specification. SQL-MM 3: 5.1.32

Examples

ST_Overlaps returns TRUE in the following situations:

Two MultiPoints overlap when they share some, but not all, points.

Code
SELECT ST_Overlaps(a, b)
FROM (SELECT
  'MULTIPOINT ((20 20),(40 90),(80 130),(140 100),(110 40),(120 170),(150 70))'::geometry AS a,
  'MULTIPOINT ((180 10),(40 90),(80 130),(160 150),(110 40),(50 50),(50 160))'::geometry AS b
) AS example;
Output
t
Figure
Geometry figure for visual-st-overlaps-01

Two LineStrings overlap along part of their paths.

Code
SELECT ST_Overlaps(a, b)
FROM (SELECT
  'LINESTRING (10 10,40 90,70 110,140 110,170 130,190 190)'::geometry AS a,
  'LINESTRING (10 190,50 130,90 110,130 110,160 70,180 10)'::geometry AS b
) AS example;
Output
t
Figure
Geometry figure for visual-st-overlaps-02

Two Polygons overlap where their interiors intersect and neither contains the other.

Code
SELECT ST_Overlaps(a, b)
FROM (SELECT
  'POLYGON ((140 140,140 122,135 105,126 100,118 99,110 94,100 86,97 73,102 59,98 49,87 38,70 30,55 29,40 30,28 38,20 50,14 66,10 84,6 100,4 119,4 143,6 166,10 180,18 191,28 195,40 190,55 189,67 186,86 179,112 165,124 158,133 148,140 140),(48 177,40 177,30 174,24 166,22 159,25 155,30 153,40 154,45 157,52 162,53 169,51 174,48 177))'::geometry AS a,
  'POLYGON ((75 63,79 50,87 38,95 31,108 25,124 22,140 18,154 11,166 6,176 10,184 21,188 35,190 58,190 82,193 104,190 121,185 139,178 154,166 163,154 171,139 172,124 171,112 165,96 152,92 142,92 126,86 116,79 110,75 104,72 94,73 86,75 76,75 63))'::geometry AS b
) AS example;
Output
t
Figure
Geometry figure for visual-st-overlaps-03

A Point on a LineString is contained, but since it has lower dimension it does not overlap or cross.

Code
SELECT ST_Overlaps(a, b) AS overlaps, ST_Crosses(a, b) AS crosses,
       ST_Intersects(a, b) AS intersects, ST_Contains(b, a) AS b_contains_a
FROM (SELECT 'POINT (100 100)'::geometry As a,
             'LINESTRING (30 50,40 160,160 40,180 160)'::geometry  AS b) AS t
Output
overlaps | crosses | intersects | b_contains_a
---------+----------------------+--------------
f        | f       | t          | t
Figure
Geometry figure for visual-st-overlaps-04

A LineString that partly covers a Polygon intersects and crosses, but does not overlap since it has different dimension.

Code
SELECT ST_Overlaps(a, b) AS overlaps, ST_Crosses(a, b) AS crosses,
       ST_Intersects(a, b) AS intersects, ST_Contains(a, b) AS contains
FROM (SELECT 'POLYGON ((40 170,90 30,180 100,40 170))'::geometry AS a,
             'LINESTRING(10 10,190 190)'::geometry AS b) AS t;
Output
 overlap | crosses | intersects | contains
---------+---------+------------+--------------
 f       | t       | t          | f
Figure
Geometry figure for visual-st-overlaps-05

Two Polygons that intersect but with neither contained by the other overlap, but do not cross because their intersection has the same dimension.

Code
SELECT ST_Overlaps(a, b) AS overlaps, ST_Crosses(a, b) AS crosses,
       ST_Intersects(a, b) AS intersects, ST_Contains(b, a) AS b_contains_a,
       ST_Dimension(a) AS dim_a, ST_Dimension(b) AS dim_b,
       ST_Dimension(ST_Intersection(a, b)) AS dim_int
FROM (SELECT 'POLYGON ((40 170,90 30,180 100,40 170))'::geometry AS a,
             'POLYGON ((110 180,20 60,130 90,110 180))'::geometry AS b) As t;
Output
 overlaps | crosses | intersects | b_contains_a | dim_a | dim_b | dim_int
----------+---------+------------+--------------+-------+-------+-----------
 t        | f       | t          | f            |     2 |     2 |       2
Figure
Geometry figure for visual-st-overlaps-06