SQLSTATE 42000 signals malformed syntax or a permission problem in PostgreSQL statements.
syntax_error_or_access_rule_violation (SQLSTATE 42000) is PostgreSQL’s generic class-42 alert that your SQL is invalid or violates access rules. Fix it by correcting the statement’s syntax or granting the required privileges before re-running the query.
syntax_error_or_access_rule_violation
SQLSTATE class 42, reported as syntax_error_or_access_rule_violation or the shorter 42000 code, covers every situation where PostgreSQL rejects a statement because the SQL text is invalid or the caller lacks permission to run it.
The server usually appends a more specific code, like 42601 for syntax error or 42501 for insufficient privilege, plus context such as line and column numbers.
Applications that surface only the 42000 class can make debugging harder, so understanding the root causes is critical.
Incorrect SQL grammar triggers the syntax branch of class 42. Typical issues include missing commas, unmatched parentheses, unquoted identifiers, or keywords in the wrong order.
Access rule violations arise when the active role lacks USAGE on schemas, SELECT on tables, or EXECUTE on functions referenced in the statement.
Revoked privileges, RLS policies, or restrictive search_path settings commonly contribute.
Running DDL in the wrong context—for example, CREATE DATABASE inside a transaction block—also maps to class 42 because PostgreSQL forbids such operations there.
Start by reading the complete server message. If it contains a caret (^) pointer, the problem is almost always syntax.
Fix the highlighted token, rerun, and confirm the error disappears.
If the message shows codes 42501, 42502, or 42509, grant the missing privilege or switch to a role that already holds it.
Always use the least-privilege principle when adding rights.
When the error appears only inside an application but not in psql, check dynamic SQL builders, ORM query generation, and string concatenation for malformed output.
Selecting from a table in another schema without SET search_path may confuse PostgreSQL. Prepend the schema name or issue SET search_path TO target_schema.
Executing CREATE DATABASE within a multi-statement transaction fails.
Commit the transaction first, then run CREATE DATABASE in its own session.
Quoting reserved words fixes many syntax errors. Use double quotes: SELECT "order" FROM sales; avoids conflicts with the ORDER keyword.
Use a linting SQL editor like Galaxy that highlights syntax problems before execution, saving round-trips to the server.
Adopt role-based access control and audit privileges regularly.
Grant only the permissions each service or user needs, and test from the least-privileged account.
Add unit tests for generated SQL in application code. Catch malformed statements during CI instead of production.
42601 syntax error at or near - A precise subclass for malformed SQL. Fix by correcting the highlighted token.
42501 insufficient_privilege - Denotes a missing privilege.
GRANT the needed right or run as a superuser if appropriate.
42883 undefined_function - Occurs when calling a function that is missing or inaccessible. Provide schema-qualified names or CREATE the function.
.
No. 42000 is the class code. Subcodes like 42601 are syntax, while 42501 is privilege-related.
Your driver may strip detailed server text. Enable verbose error reporting or query pg_last_error in your language.
Yes. Galaxy’s real-time parser flags invalid SQL before execution and its role-aware snippets reduce permission mistakes.
No. Granting only required rights limits security risk. Audit permissions instead of granting ALL.
.avif)
.avif){kind=logo}
