sql - Return multiple columns and rows from a function PostgreSQL instead of record

Question

I was reading online about function on PostgreSQL and returns results In this links:

1. SQL function return-type: TABLE vs SETOF records
2. How do I reference named parameters in Postgres sql functions?
3. http://www.postgresqltutorial.com/plpgsql-function-returns-a-table/

I have written this Function:

create or replace function brand_hierarchy(account_value int)
  RETURNS table (topID INTEGER, accountId INTEGER, liveRowCount bigint,archiveRowCount bigint)
  AS
$BODY$
  SELECT * FROM my_client_numbers
where accountId  = coalesce($1,accountId);
$BODY$
LANGUAGE sql;

Which works and return the results in a single column Type of record. Note that might more than one row will return.

Now the response is:

record
(1172,1172,1011,0)
(1172,1412,10,40)
.....

I would like to get my results not as a record but as multiple columns

|---------|---------|------------|----------------|
| topID   |accountId|liveRowCount|archiveRowCount |
|---------|---------|------------|----------------|
| 1172    |1172     | 1011       |  0             |
| 1172    |1412     | 10         |  40            |

Is there a way to return multiple columns from a PostgreSQL function

Answer 1

Functions returning a table (or setof) should be used in the FROM clause:

select * 
from brand_hierarchy(1234)