Thread: How to convert return values from JSON Path functions to text

The new JSON path functions in Postgres 12 are really convenient, however I cannot figure out how to properly convert
theirreturn values to a text value.
 

E.g. select jsonb_path_query_first('{"a": "foo"}', '$.a') returns a JSONB value.
Casting it to text, still yields "foo" (with quotes), rather than foo (without quotes)

For the time being I am using something like this:

     create function jsonb_to_text(p_value jsonb)
       returns text
     as
     $$
       select case jsonb_typeof(p_value)
                when 'string' then trim('"' from p_value::text)
                else p_value::text
              end;
     $$
     language sql
     immutable
     strict;

But that feels a bit "heavyweight" - I was hoping for an easier (and more efficient) way to do that.

Thomas