The database parser found unexpected tokens in your SQL, stopping execution.
PostgreSQL “syntax error at or near” means the SQL parser hit an unexpected keyword, symbol, or missing delimiter. Review the exact token in the error, verify statement order, parentheses, commas, and quotes, then run the corrected query to resolve the issue.
ERROR: syntax error at or near "<token>"
The error appears when the PostgreSQL parser encounters a token it does not expect based on SQL grammar rules. Execution halts, and the engine shows the problematic keyword or symbol.
Because the parser stops at the first issue, later mistakes stay hidden until the initial one is fixed.
Quick resolution is essential to continue development and avoid cascading failures in scripts or applications.
Incorrect SQL order leads the parser to an unexpected token.
Missing commas, parentheses, or semicolons frequently trigger the fault.
Quoting mishaps such as unmatched single quotes, double quotes, or dollar-quoting tags also confuse the lexer and raise the same message.
Copy-pasting queries from other database flavors can introduce keywords or functions PostgreSQL does not recognize.
Start with the token reported in the message. Check the characters before it for missing delimiters or wrong keyword order.
Validate parentheses and quotation marks pair correctly.
Run the corrected statement in a SQL editor like Galaxy that highlights paired characters and auto-formats SQL to surface structural issues quickly.
Table creation commands often miss commas between column definitions.
Insert commands may forget VALUES or wrap strings without quotes.
Function bodies written in PL/pgSQL can forget BEGIN or END, causing the parser to stumble at RETURNS or LANGUAGE.
Adopt a formatter that enforces consistent commas, indentation, and capitalization. Galaxy’s AI copilot can auto-complete parentheses and suggest missing keywords.
Write complex statements incrementally, executing each clause to catch mistakes early.
“Unterminated quoted string” signals mismatched quotes rather than general syntax.
“ERROR: column does not exist” follows after successful parsing but failing semantic checks.
“ERROR: unterminated dollar-quoted string” is specific to PL/pgSQL bodies with incorrect $$ tags.
Usually, but not always. The parser stops at the first token it cannot fit, so the mistake is often just before the highlighted word.
Yes. It forces PostgreSQL to treat backslashes literally, reducing quote confusion in string literals.
No. Retries will repeat the same invalid SQL. Fix the statement before re-execution.
Galaxy offers live syntax checking, auto-completion, and AI-driven fixes, catching missing commas or quotes before execution.
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