diff --git a/python/pyspark/sql/functions.py b/python/pyspark/sql/functions.py
index 36dcabc6766d8..1be68f2a4a448 100644
--- a/python/pyspark/sql/functions.py
+++ b/python/pyspark/sql/functions.py
@@ -1862,6 +1862,30 @@ def array_position(col, value):
     return Column(sc._jvm.functions.array_position(_to_java_column(col), value))
 
 
+@ignore_unicode_prefix
+@since(2.4)
+def element_at(col, extraction):
+    """
+    Collection function: Returns element of array at given index in extraction if col is array.
+    Returns value for the given key in extraction if col is map.
+
+    :param col: name of column containing array or map
+    :param extraction: index to check for in array or key to check for in map
+
+    .. note:: The position is not zero based, but 1 based index.
+
+    >>> df = spark.createDataFrame([(["a", "b", "c"],), ([],)], ['data'])
+    >>> df.select(element_at(df.data, 1)).collect()
+    [Row(element_at(data, 1)=u'a'), Row(element_at(data, 1)=None)]
+
+    >>> df = spark.createDataFrame([({"a": 1.0, "b": 2.0},), ({},)], ['data'])
+    >>> df.select(element_at(df.data, "a")).collect()
+    [Row(element_at(data, a)=1.0), Row(element_at(data, a)=None)]
+    """
+    sc = SparkContext._active_spark_context
+    return Column(sc._jvm.functions.element_at(_to_java_column(col), extraction))
+
+
 @since(1.4)
 def explode(col):
     """Returns a new row for each element in the given array or map.
diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/analysis/FunctionRegistry.scala b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/analysis/FunctionRegistry.scala
index 74095fe697b6a..a44f2d5272b8e 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/analysis/FunctionRegistry.scala
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/analysis/FunctionRegistry.scala
@@ -405,6 +405,7 @@ object FunctionRegistry {
     expression[ArrayPosition]("array_position"),
     expression[CreateMap]("map"),
     expression[CreateNamedStruct]("named_struct"),
+    expression[ElementAt]("element_at"),
     expression[MapKeys]("map_keys"),
     expression[MapValues]("map_values"),
     expression[Size]("size"),
diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/collectionOperations.scala b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/collectionOperations.scala
index e6a05f535cb1c..dba426e999dda 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/collectionOperations.scala
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/collectionOperations.scala
@@ -561,3 +561,107 @@ case class ArrayPosition(left: Expression, right: Expression)
     })
   }
 }
+
+/**
+ * Returns the value of index `right` in Array `left` or the value for key `right` in Map `left`.
+ */
+@ExpressionDescription(
+  usage = """
+    _FUNC_(array, index) - Returns element of array at given (1-based) index. If index < 0,
+      accesses elements from the last to the first. Returns NULL if the index exceeds the length
+      of the array.
+
+    _FUNC_(map, key) - Returns value for given key, or NULL if the key is not contained in the map
+  """,
+  examples = """
+    Examples:
+      > SELECT _FUNC_(array(1, 2, 3), 2);
+       2
+      > SELECT _FUNC_(map(1, 'a', 2, 'b'), 2);
+       "b"
+  """,
+  since = "2.4.0")
+case class ElementAt(left: Expression, right: Expression) extends GetMapValueUtil {
+
+  override def dataType: DataType = left.dataType match {
+    case ArrayType(elementType, _) => elementType
+    case MapType(_, valueType, _) => valueType
+  }
+
+  override def inputTypes: Seq[AbstractDataType] = {
+    Seq(TypeCollection(ArrayType, MapType),
+      left.dataType match {
+        case _: ArrayType => IntegerType
+        case _: MapType => left.dataType.asInstanceOf[MapType].keyType
+      }
+    )
+  }
+
+  override def nullable: Boolean = true
+
+  override def nullSafeEval(value: Any, ordinal: Any): Any = {
+    left.dataType match {
+      case _: ArrayType =>
+        val array = value.asInstanceOf[ArrayData]
+        val index = ordinal.asInstanceOf[Int]
+        if (array.numElements() < math.abs(index)) {
+          null
+        } else {
+          val idx = if (index == 0) {
+            throw new ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException("SQL array indices start at 1")
+          } else if (index > 0) {
+            index - 1
+          } else {
+            array.numElements() + index
+          }
+          if (left.dataType.asInstanceOf[ArrayType].containsNull && array.isNullAt(idx)) {
+            null
+          } else {
+            array.get(idx, dataType)
+          }
+        }
+      case _: MapType =>
+        getValueEval(value, ordinal, left.dataType.asInstanceOf[MapType].keyType)
+    }
+  }
+
+  override def doGenCode(ctx: CodegenContext, ev: ExprCode): ExprCode = {
+    left.dataType match {
+      case _: ArrayType =>
+        nullSafeCodeGen(ctx, ev, (eval1, eval2) => {
+          val index = ctx.freshName("elementAtIndex")
+          val nullCheck = if (left.dataType.asInstanceOf[ArrayType].containsNull) {
+            s"""
+               |if ($eval1.isNullAt($index)) {
+               |  ${ev.isNull} = true;
+               |} else
+             """.stripMargin
+          } else {
+            ""
+          }
+          s"""
+             |int $index = (int) $eval2;
+             |if ($eval1.numElements() < Math.abs($index)) {
+             |  ${ev.isNull} = true;
+             |} else {
+             |  if ($index == 0) {
+             |    throw new ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException("SQL array indices start at 1");
+             |  } else if ($index > 0) {
+             |    $index--;
+             |  } else {
+             |    $index += $eval1.numElements();
+             |  }
+             |  $nullCheck
+             |  {
+             |    ${ev.value} = ${CodeGenerator.getValue(eval1, dataType, index)};
+             |  }
+             |}
+           """.stripMargin
+        })
+      case _: MapType =>
+        doGetValueGenCode(ctx, ev, left.dataType.asInstanceOf[MapType])
+    }
+  }
+
+  override def prettyName: String = "element_at"
+}
diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/complexTypeExtractors.scala b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/complexTypeExtractors.scala
index 6cdad19168dce..3fba52d745453 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/complexTypeExtractors.scala
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/complexTypeExtractors.scala
@@ -268,31 +268,12 @@ case class GetArrayItem(child: Expression, ordinal: Expression)
 }
 
 /**
- * Returns the value of key `key` in Map `child`.
- *
- * We need to do type checking here as `key` expression maybe unresolved.
+ * Common base class for [[GetMapValue]] and [[ElementAt]].
  */
-case class GetMapValue(child: Expression, key: Expression)
-  extends BinaryExpression with ImplicitCastInputTypes with ExtractValue with NullIntolerant {
-
-  private def keyType = child.dataType.asInstanceOf[MapType].keyType
-
-  // We have done type checking for child in `ExtractValue`, so only need to check the `key`.
-  override def inputTypes: Seq[AbstractDataType] = Seq(AnyDataType, keyType)
-
-  override def toString: String = s"$child[$key]"
-  override def sql: String = s"${child.sql}[${key.sql}]"
-
-  override def left: Expression = child
-  override def right: Expression = key
-
-  /** `Null` is returned for invalid ordinals. */
-  override def nullable: Boolean = true
-
-  override def dataType: DataType = child.dataType.asInstanceOf[MapType].valueType
 
+abstract class GetMapValueUtil extends BinaryExpression with ImplicitCastInputTypes {
   // todo: current search is O(n), improve it.
-  protected override def nullSafeEval(value: Any, ordinal: Any): Any = {
+  def getValueEval(value: Any, ordinal: Any, keyType: DataType): Any = {
     val map = value.asInstanceOf[MapData]
     val length = map.numElements()
     val keys = map.keyArray()
@@ -315,14 +296,15 @@ case class GetMapValue(child: Expression, key: Expression)
     }
   }
 
-  override def doGenCode(ctx: CodegenContext, ev: ExprCode): ExprCode = {
+  def doGetValueGenCode(ctx: CodegenContext, ev: ExprCode, mapType: MapType): ExprCode = {
     val index = ctx.freshName("index")
     val length = ctx.freshName("length")
     val keys = ctx.freshName("keys")
     val found = ctx.freshName("found")
     val key = ctx.freshName("key")
     val values = ctx.freshName("values")
-    val nullCheck = if (child.dataType.asInstanceOf[MapType].valueContainsNull) {
+    val keyType = mapType.keyType
+    val nullCheck = if (mapType.valueContainsNull) {
       s" || $values.isNullAt($index)"
     } else {
       ""
@@ -354,3 +336,37 @@ case class GetMapValue(child: Expression, key: Expression)
     })
   }
 }
+
+/**
+ * Returns the value of key `key` in Map `child`.
+ *
+ * We need to do type checking here as `key` expression maybe unresolved.
+ */
+case class GetMapValue(child: Expression, key: Expression)
+  extends GetMapValueUtil with ExtractValue with NullIntolerant {
+
+  private def keyType = child.dataType.asInstanceOf[MapType].keyType
+
+  // We have done type checking for child in `ExtractValue`, so only need to check the `key`.
+  override def inputTypes: Seq[AbstractDataType] = Seq(AnyDataType, keyType)
+
+  override def toString: String = s"$child[$key]"
+  override def sql: String = s"${child.sql}[${key.sql}]"
+
+  override def left: Expression = child
+  override def right: Expression = key
+
+  /** `Null` is returned for invalid ordinals. */
+  override def nullable: Boolean = true
+
+  override def dataType: DataType = child.dataType.asInstanceOf[MapType].valueType
+
+  // todo: current search is O(n), improve it.
+  override def nullSafeEval(value: Any, ordinal: Any): Any = {
+    getValueEval(value, ordinal, keyType)
+  }
+
+  override def doGenCode(ctx: CodegenContext, ev: ExprCode): ExprCode = {
+    doGetValueGenCode(ctx, ev, child.dataType.asInstanceOf[MapType])
+  }
+}
diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/CollectionExpressionsSuite.scala b/sql/catalyst/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/CollectionExpressionsSuite.scala
index 916cd3bb4cca5..7d8fe211858b2 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/CollectionExpressionsSuite.scala
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/CollectionExpressionsSuite.scala
@@ -191,4 +191,52 @@ class CollectionExpressionsSuite extends SparkFunSuite with ExpressionEvalHelper
     checkEvaluation(ArrayPosition(a3, Literal("")), null)
     checkEvaluation(ArrayPosition(a3, Literal.create(null, StringType)), null)
   }
+
+  test("elementAt") {
+    val a0 = Literal.create(Seq(1, 2, 3), ArrayType(IntegerType))
+    val a1 = Literal.create(Seq[String](null, ""), ArrayType(StringType))
+    val a2 = Literal.create(Seq(null), ArrayType(LongType))
+    val a3 = Literal.create(null, ArrayType(StringType))
+
+    intercept[Exception] {
+      checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a0, Literal(0)), null)
+    }.getMessage.contains("SQL array indices start at 1")
+    intercept[Exception] { checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a0, Literal(1.1)), null) }
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a0, Literal(4)), null)
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a0, Literal(-4)), null)
+
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a0, Literal(1)), 1)
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a0, Literal(2)), 2)
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a0, Literal(3)), 3)
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a0, Literal(-3)), 1)
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a0, Literal(-2)), 2)
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a0, Literal(-1)), 3)
+
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a1, Literal(1)), null)
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a1, Literal(2)), "")
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a1, Literal(-2)), null)
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a1, Literal(-1)), "")
+
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a2, Literal(1)), null)
+
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(a3, Literal(1)), null)
+
+
+    val m0 =
+      Literal.create(Map("a" -> "1", "b" -> "2", "c" -> null), MapType(StringType, StringType))
+    val m1 = Literal.create(Map[String, String](), MapType(StringType, StringType))
+    val m2 = Literal.create(null, MapType(StringType, StringType))
+
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(m0, Literal(1.0)), null)
+
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(m0, Literal("d")), null)
+
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(m1, Literal("a")), null)
+
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(m0, Literal("a")), "1")
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(m0, Literal("b")), "2")
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(m0, Literal("c")), null)
+
+    checkEvaluation(ElementAt(m2, Literal("a")), null)
+  }
 }
diff --git a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/functions.scala b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/functions.scala
index 3a09ec4f1982e..9c8580378303e 100644
--- a/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/functions.scala
+++ b/sql/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/functions.scala
@@ -3052,6 +3052,17 @@ object functions {
     ArrayPosition(column.expr, Literal(value))
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns element of array at given index in value if column is array. Returns value for
+   * the given key in value if column is map.
+   *
+   * @group collection_funcs
+   * @since 2.4.0
+   */
+  def element_at(column: Column, value: Any): Column = withExpr {
+    ElementAt(column.expr, Literal(value))
+  }
+
   /**
    * Creates a new row for each element in the given array or map column.
    *
diff --git a/sql/core/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/DataFrameFunctionsSuite.scala b/sql/core/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/DataFrameFunctionsSuite.scala
index 13161e7e24cfe..7c976c1b7f915 100644
--- a/sql/core/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/DataFrameFunctionsSuite.scala
+++ b/sql/core/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/DataFrameFunctionsSuite.scala
@@ -569,6 +569,54 @@ class DataFrameFunctionsSuite extends QueryTest with SharedSQLContext {
     )
   }
 
+  test("element_at function") {
+    val df = Seq(
+      (Seq[String]("1", "2", "3")),
+      (Seq[String](null, "")),
+      (Seq[String]())
+    ).toDF("a")
+
+    intercept[Exception] {
+      checkAnswer(
+        df.select(element_at(df("a"), 0)),
+        Seq(Row(null), Row(null), Row(null))
+      )
+    }.getMessage.contains("SQL array indices start at 1")
+    intercept[Exception] {
+      checkAnswer(
+        df.select(element_at(df("a"), 1.1)),
+        Seq(Row(null), Row(null), Row(null))
+      )
+    }
+    checkAnswer(
+      df.select(element_at(df("a"), 4)),
+      Seq(Row(null), Row(null), Row(null))
+    )
+
+    checkAnswer(
+      df.select(element_at(df("a"), 1)),
+      Seq(Row("1"), Row(null), Row(null))
+    )
+    checkAnswer(
+      df.select(element_at(df("a"), -1)),
+      Seq(Row("3"), Row(""), Row(null))
+    )
+
+    checkAnswer(
+      df.selectExpr("element_at(a, 4)"),
+      Seq(Row(null), Row(null), Row(null))
+    )
+
+    checkAnswer(
+      df.selectExpr("element_at(a, 1)"),
+      Seq(Row("1"), Row(null), Row(null))
+    )
+    checkAnswer(
+      df.selectExpr("element_at(a, -1)"),
+      Seq(Row("3"), Row(""), Row(null))
+    )
+  }
+
   private def assertValuesDoNotChangeAfterCoalesceOrUnion(v: Column): Unit = {
     import DataFrameFunctionsSuite.CodegenFallbackExpr
     for ((codegenFallback, wholeStage) <- Seq((true, false), (false, false), (false, true))) {