The “Cannot parse” error signals that the SQL engine failed to understand the submitted statement due to malformed syntax, mismatched delimiters, or incompatible data types.
“Cannot parse” error occurs when the SQL engine cannot interpret your statement. Check for missing commas, unmatched parentheses, stray quotes, or invalid data types, then rewrite the query using proper syntax to resolve the error.
ERROR: cannot parse "%s"
The “Cannot parse” error appears when the database parser fails to tokenize or interpret the submitted SQL statement. The server stops execution at the exact character it cannot decode, returning an error that includes the fragment it failed to parse.
This parser failure is critical because it blocks query execution, halts transactions, and can mask deeper issues such as wrong data types or malformed JSON.
Fixing it quickly restores application stability.
Improper syntax—such as missing commas, extra parentheses, or stray semicolons—prevents the parser from constructing a valid abstract syntax tree (AST).
Using reserved keywords as identifiers without proper quoting also triggers parsing failures, especially after database upgrades that introduce new keywords.
Locate the character position reported by the database and inspect tokens immediately before it.
Look for missing delimiters, unmatched quotes, or bad operators.
Rewrite the offending segment, test the query in a modern SQL editor like Galaxy for instant syntax validation, and run unit tests to confirm the fix.
Bulk INSERT scripts often fail when one row contains an unescaped quote; binding parameters instead of hard-coding values eliminates this pitfall.
JSON columns may trigger parsing errors if the supplied JSON is not valid; validate JSON with jsonb_valid() before insertion.
Enable strict linting in your CI pipeline, use parameterized queries, and upgrade client libraries to versions that support your server’s grammar.
Leverage Galaxy’s AI copilot to auto-complete syntax correctly and flag mismatched parentheses in real time.
Syntax error at or near “FROM” arises from misplaced clauses; reorganize SELECT statements to cure it.
Unexpected end of input occurs when quotes or parentheses are left open; count and match all delimiters.
Yes. It indicates the parser cannot construct a valid statement due to syntax or invalid literals.
Often it points just after the actual mistake; inspect preceding tokens.
Galaxy’s real-time linting and AI copilot highlight syntax issues before execution.
Quoting resolves keyword conflicts but not other syntax flaws like missing commas.
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