PostgreSQL shows this error when the SQL parser meets an unexpected token.
“ERROR: syntax error at or near …” appears when PostgreSQL’s parser hits an unexpected keyword, symbol, or line break. Check the token shown in the message, compare with SQL grammar, add missing commas, parentheses, or keywords, then rerun the corrected statement.
ERROR: syntax error at or near "<token>"
PostgreSQL raises “ERROR: syntax error at or near <token>” when its SQL parser cannot match the incoming statement to valid grammar rules. The <token> placeholder shows the exact word or symbol the engine found confusing.
This syntax error stops statement execution immediately, so no data is read, written, or changed.
Fixing it is essential to keep applications and pipelines running smoothly.
Unexpected keywords, missing commas, misplaced parentheses, or incorrect clause order make the parser fail. Copy-pasted code from another database that uses different syntax also triggers the issue.
Line breaks inside string literals, unescaped quotes, and trailing commas in column lists are frequent culprits during rapid query editing.
First, locate the reported token.
Read the few characters before it—errors often originate one symbol earlier. Compare your query with PostgreSQL syntax diagrams. Insert missing separators, rename conflicting identifiers, or reorder clauses.
Run the corrected statement in smaller chunks inside Galaxy’s editor.
Galaxy highlights the precise token and proposes AI-generated fixes, reducing trial-and-error.
Missing comma between SELECT columns: add the comma and rerun.
Using MySQL-only LIMIT syntax (LIMIT offset, count): switch to LIMIT count OFFSET offset.
Calling TOP in PostgreSQL: replace with LIMIT.
Accidentally using double quotes for string literals: change to single quotes or escape correctly.
Always format SQL with consistent indentation so missing symbols stand out.
Use Galaxy’s linter to flag syntax violations before execution.
Add unit tests for critical queries; continuous integration catches syntax regressions early. Adopt code reviews focused on SQL standards compliance.
“column does not exist” occurs when identifiers are misspelled—double-check column names.
“unterminated quoted string” arises from unbalanced quotes—ensure each opening quote has a closing mate.
“missing FROM-clause entry for table” signals table alias misuse—add the alias to the FROM clause or remove it from the SELECT list.
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No. The statement fails before execution, so no rows are changed.
The parser stops where it becomes certain the grammar is invalid, which can be several tokens after the actual typo.
Yes. Galaxy’s AI copilot suggests corrections and explains invalid tokens, speeding up debugging.
Yes. Core syntax rules are stable across versions, though new keywords may require quoting in older releases.
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