The JSON path expression does not point to a specific cell within an array, so MySQL cannot extract or modify the desired value.
MySQL Error 3165 (ER_INVALID_JSON_PATH_ARRAY_CELL) occurs when your JSON path skips the array index, such as using $.items[*] instead of $.items[0]. Add a valid index or replace the wildcard with a concrete position to resolve the problem quickly.
ER_INVALID_JSON_PATH_ARRAY_CELL
MySQL throws Error 3165 when a JSON path used with JSON_EXTRACT, JSON_SET, JSON_REPLACE, or the -> and ->> operators does not reference a single element inside an array.
The server added this validation in MySQL 5.7.8 to prevent ambiguous updates or reads. Any wildcard or missing index at the array level counts as an invalid path to an array cell.
The error appears most often when developers use a wildcard asterisk or omit the numeric index inside square brackets. A path like $.orders[*].price targets multiple elements, so MySQL refuses the operation that expects exactly one array cell.
It can also occur when the array syntax is correct but the JSON document at run time is not an array, leading MySQL to interpret the path as non-cell specific.
Replace any wildcard with a concrete position, or iterate through the array with JSON_TABLE instead of a single-cell function. Validate that the value at each step in the path is indeed an array before applying the index.
After adjusting the path, rerun your query to confirm the error disappears. Galaxy users can leverage the AI copilot to preview corrected JSON paths before execution.
Reading the first item of an array fails if you write $.items.*.id. Change it to $.items[0].id and the extraction succeeds.
Updating every element in an array using JSON_SET is unsupported. Loop with a stored procedure or unnest via JSON_TABLE, update rows individually, then aggregate back if needed.
Always validate JSON structure during design time and store predictable shapes. Use CHECK constraints or generated columns to enforce array consistency.
Adopt Galaxy Collections to share vetted queries that already contain correct JSON paths, preventing teammates from copying unsafe examples into production.
Error 3149 (ER_INVALID_JSON_TEXT) fires when the document itself is malformed; fix by supplying valid JSON.
Error 3157 (ER_INVALID_JSON_PATH_CHARSET) arises when the path uses a different character set; convert both path and column to utf8mb4 for consistency.
Using $.array.0 or $.array.* instead of $.array[0] leaves MySQL without a definitive cell reference.
Expressions such as $[ * ] are rejected because they target multiple elements simultaneously.
If the document element is an object or scalar but the path assumes an array, MySQL flags the mismatch.
The supplied string is not valid JSON; fix the literal before retrying.
The path contains illegal characters for a JSON path; sanitize the input.
Path and column charsets differ; convert one side to utf8mb4.
No. Error 3165 was introduced in MySQL 5.7.8, so earlier versions silently accept ambiguous paths.
Not with JSON_SET directly. Use JSON_TABLE to explode the array, update rows individually, then reaggregate if necessary.
The path is correct, but the runtime value at $.items may not be an array. Validate with JSON_TYPE before querying.
Galaxy’s AI copilot autocompletes JSON paths and warns when array indexes are missing, reducing the chance of committing faulty queries.
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