diff --git a/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py b/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py
index 8fcc9e0db1..dcb22bc37c 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py
@@ -396,6 +396,8 @@ class DatabaseOperations(BaseDatabaseOperations):
             converters.append(self.convert_booleanfield_value)
         if internal_type == 'UUIDField':
             converters.append(self.convert_uuidfield_value)
+        if internal_type == 'TextField':
+            converters.append(self.convert_textfield_value)
         return converters
 
     def convert_booleanfield_value(self, value, field):
@@ -408,6 +410,11 @@ class DatabaseOperations(BaseDatabaseOperations):
             value = uuid.UUID(value)
         return value
 
+    def convert_textfield_value(self, value, field):
+        if value is not None:
+            value = force_text(value)
+        return value
+
 
 class DatabaseWrapper(BaseDatabaseWrapper):
     vendor = 'mysql'
diff --git a/django/db/models/functions.py b/django/db/models/functions.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f2252000cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/django/db/models/functions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+"""
+Classes that represent database functions.
+"""
+from django.db.models import IntegerField
+from django.db.models.expressions import Func, Value
+
+
+class Coalesce(Func):
+    """
+    Chooses, from left to right, the first non-null expression and returns it.
+    """
+    function = 'COALESCE'
+
+    def __init__(self, *expressions, **extra):
+        if len(expressions) < 2:
+            raise ValueError('Coalesce must take at least two expressions')
+        super(Coalesce, self).__init__(*expressions, **extra)
+
+
+class ConcatPair(Func):
+    """
+    A helper class that concatenates two arguments together. This is used
+    by `Concat` because not all backend databases support more than two
+    arguments.
+    """
+    function = 'CONCAT'
+
+    def __init__(self, left, right, **extra):
+        super(ConcatPair, self).__init__(left, right, **extra)
+
+    def as_sqlite(self, compiler, connection):
+        self.arg_joiner = ' || '
+        self.template = '%(expressions)s'
+        self.coalesce()
+        return super(ConcatPair, self).as_sql(compiler, connection)
+
+    def as_mysql(self, compiler, connection):
+        self.coalesce()
+        return super(ConcatPair, self).as_sql(compiler, connection)
+
+    def coalesce(self):
+        # null on either side results in null for expression, wrap with coalesce
+        expressions = [
+            Coalesce(expression, Value('')) for expression in self.get_source_expressions()]
+        self.set_source_expressions(expressions)
+
+
+class Concat(Func):
+    """
+    Concatenates text fields together. Backends that result in an entire
+    null expression when any arguments are null will wrap each argument in
+    coalesce functions to ensure we always get a non-null result.
+    """
+    function = None
+    template = "%(expressions)s"
+
+    def __init__(self, *expressions, **extra):
+        if len(expressions) < 2:
+            raise ValueError('Concat must take at least two expressions')
+        paired = self._paired(expressions)
+        super(Concat, self).__init__(paired, **extra)
+
+    def _paired(self, expressions):
+        # wrap pairs of expressions in successive concat functions
+        # exp = [a, b, c, d]
+        # -> ConcatPair(a, ConcatPair(b, ConcatPair(c, d))))
+        if len(expressions) == 2:
+            return ConcatPair(*expressions)
+        return ConcatPair(expressions[0], self._paired(expressions[1:]))
+
+
+class Length(Func):
+    """Returns the number of characters in the expression"""
+    function = 'LENGTH'
+
+    def __init__(self, expression, **extra):
+        output_field = extra.pop('output_field', IntegerField())
+        super(Length, self).__init__(expression, output_field=output_field, **extra)
+
+    def as_mysql(self, compiler, connection):
+        self.function = 'CHAR_LENGTH'
+        return super(Length, self).as_sql(compiler, connection)
+
+
+class Lower(Func):
+    function = 'LOWER'
+
+    def __init__(self, expression, **extra):
+        super(Lower, self).__init__(expression, **extra)
+
+
+class Substr(Func):
+    function = 'SUBSTRING'
+
+    def __init__(self, expression, pos, length=None, **extra):
+        """
+        expression: the name of a field, or an expression returning a string
+        pos: an integer > 0, or an expression returning an integer
+        length: an optional number of characters to return
+        """
+        if not hasattr('pos', 'resolve_expression'):
+            if pos < 1:
+                raise ValueError("'pos' must be greater than 0")
+            pos = Value(pos)
+        expressions = [expression, pos]
+        if length is not None:
+            if not hasattr('length', 'resolve_expression'):
+                length = Value(length)
+            expressions.append(length)
+        super(Substr, self).__init__(*expressions, **extra)
+
+    def as_sqlite(self, compiler, connection):
+        self.function = 'SUBSTR'
+        return super(Substr, self).as_sql(compiler, connection)
+
+    def as_oracle(self, compiler, connection):
+        self.function = 'SUBSTR'
+        return super(Substr, self).as_sql(compiler, connection)
+
+
+class Upper(Func):
+    function = 'UPPER'
+
+    def __init__(self, expression, **extra):
+        super(Upper, self).__init__(expression, **extra)
diff --git a/docs/index.txt b/docs/index.txt
index fb8997a869..7aa9dc5864 100644
--- a/docs/index.txt
+++ b/docs/index.txt
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ manipulating the data of your Web application. Learn more about it below:
   :doc:`Custom fields <howto/custom-model-fields>` |
   :doc:`Multiple databases <topics/db/multi-db>` |
   :doc:`Custom lookups <howto/custom-lookups>` |
-  :doc:`Query Expressions <ref/models/expressions>`
+  :doc:`Query Expressions <ref/models/expressions>` |
+  :doc:`Database Functions <ref/models/database-functions>`
 
 * **Other:**
   :doc:`Supported databases <ref/databases>` |
diff --git a/docs/ref/models/database-functions.txt b/docs/ref/models/database-functions.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cdd46ff1a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/ref/models/database-functions.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+==================
+Database Functions
+==================
+
+.. module:: django.db.models.functions
+    :synopsis: Database Functions
+
+.. versionadded:: 1.8
+
+The classes documented below provide a way for users to use functions provided
+by the underlying database as annotations, aggregations, or filters in Django.
+Functions are also :doc:`expressions <expressions>`, so they can be used and
+combined with other expressions like :ref:`aggregate functions
+<aggregation-functions>`.
+
+We'll be using the following model in examples of each function::
+
+    class Author(models.Model):
+        name = models.CharField(max_length=50)
+        age = models.PositiveIntegerField(null=True, blank=True)
+        alias = models.CharField(max_length=50, null=True, blank=True)
+        goes_by = models.CharField(max_length=50, null=True, blank=True)
+
+We don't usually recommend allowing ``null=True`` for ``CharField`` since this
+allows the field to have two "empty values", but it's important for the
+``Coalesce`` example below.
+
+Coalesce
+--------
+
+.. class:: Coalesce(*expressions, **extra)
+
+Accepts a list of at least two field names or expressions and returns the
+first non-null value (note that an empty string is not considered a null
+value). Each argument must be of a similar type, so mixing text and numbers
+will result in a database error.
+
+Usage examples::
+
+    >>> # Get a screen name from least to most public
+    >>> from django.db.models import Sum, Value as V
+    >>> from django.db.models.functions import Coalesce
+    >>> Author.objects.create(name='Margaret Smith', goes_by='Maggie')
+    >>> author = Author.objects.annotate(
+    ...    screen_name=Coalesce('alias', 'goes_by', 'name')).get()
+    >>> print(author.screen_name)
+    Maggie
+
+    >>> # Prevent an aggregate Sum() from returning None
+    >>> aggregated = Author.objects.aggregate(
+    ...    combined_age=Coalesce(Sum('age'), V(0)),
+    ...    combined_age_default=Sum('age'))
+    >>> print(aggregated['combined_age'])
+    0
+    >>> print(aggregated['combined_age_default'])
+    None
+
+Concat
+------
+
+.. class:: Concat(*expressions, **extra)
+
+Accepts a list of at least two text fields or expressions and returns the
+concatenated text. Each argument must be of a text or char type. If you want
+to concatenate a ``TextField()`` with a ``CharField()``, then be sure to tell
+Django that the ``output_field`` should be a ``TextField()``. This is also
+required when concatenating a ``Value`` as in the example below.
+
+This function will never have a null result. On backends where a null argument
+results in the entire expression being null, Django will ensure that each null
+part is converted to an empty string first.
+
+Usage example::
+
+    >>> # Get the display name as "name (goes_by)"
+    >>> from django.db.models import CharField, Value as V
+    >>> from django.db.models.functions import Concat
+    >>> Author.objects.create(name='Margaret Smith', goes_by='Maggie')
+    >>> author = Author.objects.annotate(
+    ...    screen_name=Concat('name', V(' ('), 'goes_by', V(')'),
+    ...    output_field=CharField())).get()
+    >>> print(author.screen_name)
+    Margaret Smith (Maggie)
+
+Length
+------
+
+.. class:: Length(expression, **extra)
+
+Accepts a single text field or expression and returns the number of characters
+the value has. If the expression is null, then the length will also be null.
+
+Usage example::
+
+    >>> # Get the length of the name and goes_by fields
+    >>> from django.db.models.functions import Length
+    >>> Author.objects.create(name='Margaret Smith')
+    >>> author = Author.objects.annotate(
+    ...    name_length=Length('name'),
+    ...    goes_by_length=Length('goes_by')).get()
+    >>> print(author.name_length, author.goes_by_length)
+    (14, None)
+
+Lower
+------
+
+.. class:: Lower(expression, **extra)
+
+Accepts a single text field or expression and returns the lowercase
+representation.
+
+Usage example::
+
+    >>> from django.db.models.functions import Lower
+    >>> Author.objects.create(name='Margaret Smith')
+    >>> author = Author.objects.annotate(name_lower=Lower('name')).get()
+    >>> print(author.name_lower)
+    margaret smith
+
+Substr
+------
+
+.. class:: Substr(expression, pos, length=None, **extra)
+
+Returns a substring of length ``length`` from the field or expression starting
+at position ``pos``. The position is 1-indexed, so the position must be greater
+than 0. If ``length`` is ``None``, then the rest of the string will be returned.
+
+Usage example::
+
+    >>> # Set the alias to the first 5 characters of the name as lowercase
+    >>> from django.db.models.functions import Substr, Lower
+    >>> Author.objects.create(name='Margaret Smith')
+    >>> Author.objects.update(alias=Lower(Substr('name', 1, 5)))
+    1
+    >>> print(Author.objects.get(name='Margaret Smith').alias)
+    marga
+
+Upper
+------
+
+.. class:: Upper(expression, **extra)
+
+Accepts a single text field or expression and returns the uppercase
+representation.
+
+Usage example::
+
+    >>> from django.db.models.functions import Upper
+    >>> Author.objects.create(name='Margaret Smith')
+    >>> author = Author.objects.annotate(name_upper=Upper('name')).get()
+    >>> print(author.name_upper)
+    MARGARET SMITH
diff --git a/docs/ref/models/expressions.txt b/docs/ref/models/expressions.txt
index 24e4f42834..defcdb0217 100644
--- a/docs/ref/models/expressions.txt
+++ b/docs/ref/models/expressions.txt
@@ -189,6 +189,8 @@ extra attribute ``field_lower`` produced, roughly, from the following SQL::
         ...
         LOWER("app_label"."field") as "field_lower"
 
+See :doc:`database-functions` for a list of built-in database functions.
+
 The ``Func`` API is as follows:
 
 .. class:: Func(*expressions, **extra)
diff --git a/docs/ref/models/index.txt b/docs/ref/models/index.txt
index b7f5ab6635..d1d3680dd8 100644
--- a/docs/ref/models/index.txt
+++ b/docs/ref/models/index.txt
@@ -16,3 +16,4 @@ Model API reference. For introductory material, see :doc:`/topics/db/models`.
    queries
    lookups
    expressions
+   database-functions
diff --git a/docs/releases/1.8.txt b/docs/releases/1.8.txt
index f1960304c4..3d38ec2443 100644
--- a/docs/releases/1.8.txt
+++ b/docs/releases/1.8.txt
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ New data types
   backends. There is a corresponding :class:`form field
   <django.forms.DurationField>`.
 
-Query Expressions
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+Query Expressions and Database Functions
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 :doc:`Query Expressions </ref/models/expressions>` allow users to create,
 customize, and compose complex SQL expressions. This has enabled annotate
@@ -75,6 +75,12 @@ to accept expressions other than aggregates. Aggregates are now able to
 reference multiple fields, as well as perform arithmetic, similar to ``F()``
 objects.
 
+A collection of :doc:`database functions </ref/models/database-functions>` is
+also included with functionality such as
+:class:`~django.db.models.functions.Coalesce`,
+:class:`~django.db.models.functions.Concat`, and
+:class:`~django.db.models.functions.Substr`.
+
 ``TestCase`` data setup
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
diff --git a/docs/spelling_wordlist b/docs/spelling_wordlist
index a80391e292..03b36c5bc0 100644
--- a/docs/spelling_wordlist
+++ b/docs/spelling_wordlist
@@ -616,6 +616,7 @@ subpackages
 subqueries
 subquery
 subselect
+substr
 subtemplate
 subtemplates
 subviews
diff --git a/tests/db_functions/__init__.py b/tests/db_functions/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/tests/db_functions/models.py b/tests/db_functions/models.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..19722aeed2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/db_functions/models.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+"""
+Tests for built in Function expressions.
+"""
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db import models
+from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
+
+
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
+class Author(models.Model):
+    name = models.CharField(max_length=50)
+    alias = models.CharField(max_length=50, null=True, blank=True)
+    goes_by = models.CharField(max_length=50, null=True, blank=True)
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        return self.name
+
+
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
+class Article(models.Model):
+    authors = models.ManyToManyField(Author, related_name='articles')
+    title = models.CharField(max_length=50)
+    summary = models.CharField(max_length=200, null=True, blank=True)
+    text = models.TextField()
+    written = models.DateTimeField()
+    published = models.DateTimeField(null=True, blank=True)
+    views = models.PositiveIntegerField(default=0)
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        return self.title
diff --git a/tests/db_functions/tests.py b/tests/db_functions/tests.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..089fd11a8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/db_functions/tests.py
@@ -0,0 +1,220 @@
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from django.db.models import TextField, CharField, Value as V
+from django.db.models.functions import (
+    Coalesce, Concat, Lower, Upper, Length, Substr,
+)
+from django.test import TestCase
+from django.utils import six, timezone
+
+from .models import Author, Article
+
+
+lorem_ipsum = """
+    Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod
+    tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua."""
+
+
+class FunctionTests(TestCase):
+
+    def test_coalesce(self):
+        Author.objects.create(name='John Smith', alias='smithj')
+        Author.objects.create(name='Rhonda')
+        authors = Author.objects.annotate(display_name=Coalesce('alias', 'name'))
+
+        self.assertQuerysetEqual(
+            authors.order_by('name'), [
+                'smithj',
+                'Rhonda',
+            ],
+            lambda a: a.display_name
+        )
+
+        with self.assertRaisesMessage(ValueError, 'Coalesce must take at least two expressions'):
+            Author.objects.annotate(display_name=Coalesce('alias'))
+
+    def test_coalesce_mixed_values(self):
+        a1 = Author.objects.create(name='John Smith', alias='smithj')
+        a2 = Author.objects.create(name='Rhonda')
+        ar1 = Article.objects.create(
+            title="How to Django",
+            text=lorem_ipsum,
+            written=timezone.now(),
+        )
+        ar1.authors.add(a1)
+        ar1.authors.add(a2)
+
+        # mixed Text and Char
+        article = Article.objects.annotate(
+            headline=Coalesce('summary', 'text', output_field=TextField()),
+        )
+
+        self.assertQuerysetEqual(
+            article.order_by('title'), [
+                lorem_ipsum,
+            ],
+            lambda a: a.headline
+        )
+
+    def test_concat(self):
+        Author.objects.create(name='Jayden')
+        Author.objects.create(name='John Smith', alias='smithj', goes_by='John')
+        Author.objects.create(name='Margaret', goes_by='Maggie')
+        Author.objects.create(name='Rhonda', alias='adnohR')
+
+        authors = Author.objects.annotate(joined=Concat('alias', 'goes_by'))
+        self.assertQuerysetEqual(
+            authors.order_by('name'), [
+                '',
+                'smithjJohn',
+                'Maggie',
+                'adnohR',
+            ],
+            lambda a: a.joined
+        )
+
+        with self.assertRaisesMessage(ValueError, 'Concat must take at least two expressions'):
+            Author.objects.annotate(joined=Concat('alias'))
+
+    def test_concat_many(self):
+        Author.objects.create(name='Jayden')
+        Author.objects.create(name='John Smith', alias='smithj', goes_by='John')
+        Author.objects.create(name='Margaret', goes_by='Maggie')
+        Author.objects.create(name='Rhonda', alias='adnohR')
+
+        authors = Author.objects.annotate(
+            joined=Concat('name', V(' ('), 'goes_by', V(')'), output_field=CharField()),
+        )
+
+        self.assertQuerysetEqual(
+            authors.order_by('name'), [
+                'Jayden ()',
+                'John Smith (John)',
+                'Margaret (Maggie)',
+                'Rhonda ()',
+            ],
+            lambda a: a.joined
+        )
+
+    def test_concat_mixed_char_text(self):
+        Article.objects.create(title='The Title', text=lorem_ipsum, written=timezone.now())
+        article = Article.objects.annotate(
+            title_text=Concat('title', V(' - '), 'text', output_field=TextField()),
+        ).get(title='The Title')
+        self.assertEqual(article.title + ' - ' + article.text, article.title_text)
+
+        # wrap the concat in something else to ensure that we're still
+        # getting text rather than bytes
+        article = Article.objects.annotate(
+            title_text=Upper(Concat('title', V(' - '), 'text', output_field=TextField())),
+        ).get(title='The Title')
+        expected = article.title + ' - ' + article.text
+        self.assertEqual(expected.upper(), article.title_text)
+
+    def test_lower(self):
+        Author.objects.create(name='John Smith', alias='smithj')
+        Author.objects.create(name='Rhonda')
+        authors = Author.objects.annotate(lower_name=Lower('name'))
+
+        self.assertQuerysetEqual(
+            authors.order_by('name'), [
+                'john smith',
+                'rhonda',
+            ],
+            lambda a: a.lower_name
+        )
+
+        Author.objects.update(name=Lower('name'))
+        self.assertQuerysetEqual(
+            authors.order_by('name'), [
+                ('john smith', 'john smith'),
+                ('rhonda', 'rhonda'),
+            ],
+            lambda a: (a.lower_name, a.name)
+        )
+
+    def test_upper(self):
+        Author.objects.create(name='John Smith', alias='smithj')
+        Author.objects.create(name='Rhonda')
+        authors = Author.objects.annotate(upper_name=Upper('name'))
+
+        self.assertQuerysetEqual(
+            authors.order_by('name'), [
+                'JOHN SMITH',
+                'RHONDA',
+            ],
+            lambda a: a.upper_name
+        )
+
+        Author.objects.update(name=Upper('name'))
+        self.assertQuerysetEqual(
+            authors.order_by('name'), [
+                ('JOHN SMITH', 'JOHN SMITH'),
+                ('RHONDA', 'RHONDA'),
+            ],
+            lambda a: (a.upper_name, a.name)
+        )
+
+    def test_length(self):
+        Author.objects.create(name='John Smith', alias='smithj')
+        Author.objects.create(name='Rhonda')
+        authors = Author.objects.annotate(
+            name_length=Length('name'),
+            alias_length=Length('alias'))
+
+        self.assertQuerysetEqual(
+            authors.order_by('name'), [
+                (10, 6),
+                (6, None),
+            ],
+            lambda a: (a.name_length, a.alias_length)
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(authors.filter(alias_length__lte=Length('name')).count(), 1)
+
+    def test_substr(self):
+        Author.objects.create(name='John Smith', alias='smithj')
+        Author.objects.create(name='Rhonda')
+        authors = Author.objects.annotate(name_part=Substr('name', 5, 3))
+
+        self.assertQuerysetEqual(
+            authors.order_by('name'), [
+                ' Sm',
+                'da',
+            ],
+            lambda a: a.name_part
+        )
+
+        authors = Author.objects.annotate(name_part=Substr('name', 2))
+        self.assertQuerysetEqual(
+            authors.order_by('name'), [
+                'ohn Smith',
+                'honda',
+            ],
+            lambda a: a.name_part
+        )
+
+        # if alias is null, set to first 5 lower characters of the name
+        Author.objects.filter(alias__isnull=True).update(
+            alias=Lower(Substr('name', 1, 5)),
+        )
+
+        self.assertQuerysetEqual(
+            authors.order_by('name'), [
+                'smithj',
+                'rhond',
+            ],
+            lambda a: a.alias
+        )
+
+    def test_substr_start(self):
+        Author.objects.create(name='John Smith', alias='smithj')
+        a = Author.objects.annotate(
+            name_part_1=Substr('name', 1),
+            name_part_2=Substr('name', 2),
+        ).get(alias='smithj')
+
+        self.assertEqual(a.name_part_1[1:], a.name_part_2)
+
+        with six.assertRaisesRegex(self, ValueError, "'pos' must be greater than 0"):
+            Author.objects.annotate(raises=Substr('name', 0))