The error appears when a JSON value cannot be cast to a valid SQL date, time, or timestamp.
invalid_argument_for_sql_json_datetime_function occurs in PostgreSQL when you pass a JSON string that cannot be parsed into a valid date, time, or timestamp to functions like to_jsonb or jsonb_to_record. Validate or format the input, then cast correctly to resolve the error.
invalid_argument_for_sql_json_datetime_function
The error is a PostgreSQL SQLSTATE 22031 exception raised when a JSON value is supplied to a date or time conversion routine but cannot be parsed into a legal SQL temporal type.
It is most common in queries that extract or cast JSON fields into DATE, TIME, or TIMESTAMP columns using operators like ->> or functions like jsonb_to_record.
PostgreSQL throws SQLSTATE 22031 when the supplied JSON text is not in the expected ISO-8601 or PostgreSQL-compatible date/time format.
Leading or trailing whitespace, locale-specific month names, mixed data types, or malformed JSON keys frequently trigger the exception.
First confirm the JSON value with SELECT jsonb_pretty(...) to see the raw string.
If the format is wrong, clean it inside a subquery or CTE before casting.
Use SAFE casts with NULLIF or a CASE expression to avoid hard failures.
Alternatively, use the AT TIME ZONE clause to normalise timestamps before storage.
APIs that return timestamps like "2024-06-07T15:00:00Z" work when cast directly to TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE, but strings such as "07/06/2024" must be reformatted first.
Bulk imports via COPY often fail if a single row contains an invalid date string.
Validate with CHECK constraints or json_schema validation in the application layer.
Always store dates in ISO 8601 (YYYY-MM-DD or YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ) inside JSON. Add constraints or generated columns that immediately cast and validate incoming data.
When exploring data in Galaxy, use its preview panel to inspect JSON fields and correct formats before running write queries.
SQLSTATE 22P02 (invalid_text_representation) occurs for non-JSON casts.
SQLSTATE 22007 (invalid_datetime_format) fires when plain strings, not JSON, are malformed. Solutions mirror those for 22031: validate, reformat, cast safely.
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The error exists in all supported versions, but 12+ offers better jsonpath functions to validate before casting.
No. You must correct the data or wrap the cast in CASE logic to avoid the exception.
Only rows containing malformed date strings cause SQLSTATE 22031. Validate or filter those rows.
Galaxy's data preview and AI copilot highlight non-ISO date strings early, letting you fix formats before executing write queries.
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