ORA-06502 occurs when Oracle tries to store or convert non-numeric text into a NUMBER data type, stopping PL/SQL execution.
ORA-06502: character-to-number conversion error appears when Oracle converts text containing non-numeric characters to NUMBER. Validate or explicitly convert the value with TO_NUMBER or widen the variable precision to fix the issue.
ORA-06502: PL/SQL: numeric or value error: character to number conversion error
ORA-06502 fires when Oracle attempts to move a VARCHAR2 value that is not purely numeric into a NUMBER variable, column, or parameter.
The PL/SQL runtime raises the exception instantly, aborting the current block and rolling back the affected statement.
Quick resolution is vital because the error can stop procedures, triggers, ETL jobs, and frontend transactions.
Implicit conversion from VARCHAR2 to NUMBER occurs in assignments, SELECT INTO, or comparisons; non-numeric characters trigger ORA-06502.
Using TO_NUMBER without a matching format mask or locale settings throws the same error when Oracle cannot parse the string.
Variables with inadequate precision or scale overflow, causing a numeric or value error even if the digits are valid.
Leading and trailing blanks, currency symbols, or hidden control characters inside strings frequently break the conversion process.
Identify the failing line from the ORA-06512 stack trace and inspect any implicit numeric assignment.
Sanitize input by applying TRIM and REGEXP_LIKE(source,'^\d+(\.\d+)?$') before assignment or conversion.
Replace implicit casting with TO_NUMBER(value,'999999D99','NLS_NUMERIC_CHARACTERS = \'.,\'') to control parsing rules.
Increase variable precision (e.g., NUMBER(15,2) → NUMBER(38,10)) or change the datatype to VARCHAR2 when mixed data is legitimate.
Bulk-loading CSV files: stage data in VARCHAR2 columns, validate with IS NUMBER check, then INSERT INTO target NUMBER columns.
Web-service parameters: use NVL2(json_value, TO_NUMBER(json_value), NULL) after REGEXP validation to avoid immediate failure.
Regional numeric formats: pass NLS_NUMERIC_CHARACTERS explicitly in your TO_NUMBER call to reconcile dot/comma differences.
Declare PL/SQL variables with %TYPE or %ROWTYPE to inherit exact precision from the database schema.
Enforce numeric integrity at the table level via CHECK constraints using REGEXP_LIKE(column,'^\d+(\.\d+)?$').
Write code with explicit type conversions to expose intent and catch mistakes during code reviews.
Galaxy's SQL editor highlights mixed-type assignments and offers AI fixes, helping teams spot ORA-06502 risks before deployment.
ORA-01722 (invalid number) arises during SQL execution outside PL/SQL; sanitize input strings before WHERE comparisons.
ORA-01438 (value larger than specified precision) indicates data fits the NUMBER type but exceeds declared precision; enlarge column or round value.
ORA-06512 lines in the stack trace pinpoint the procedure and line number of the failing conversion for rapid debugging.
No. The exception stops PL/SQL execution. You may trap it, but you still need to fix the underlying data or code.
Only when the root cause is mismatched decimal or grouping symbols. Validate data first.
Casting prevents the immediate failure, but storing numeric data as text leads to data-quality issues later.
Galaxy's AI copilot flags implicit conversions and suggests type-safe SQL, reducing chances of ORA-06502 reaching production.
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