The error appears when a JSON value returned by SQL/JSON functions cannot be implicitly or explicitly converted to the requested SQL type.
sql_json_item_cannot_be_cast_to_target_type occurs in PostgreSQL when a SQL-JSON query tries to convert a JSON value to an incompatible SQL type. Cast the JSON item explicitly, supply a compatible path predicate, or use jsonb_to_record() to avoid the mismatch and the query will run successfully.
sql_json_item_cannot_be_cast_to_target_type
PostgreSQL raises the sql_json_item_cannot_be_cast_to_target_type error (SQLSTATE 2203G) when a SQL/JSON path query or function tries to coerce a JSON value into an incompatible SQL data type.
The server aborts execution immediately after detecting the mismatch, returning the error instead of silently truncating or corrupting data.
Fixing the cast or filtering the path lets the statement finish successfully.
The error surfaces when a numeric cast is requested but the JSON value is non-numeric, or when a text cast fails due to invalid encoding.
Functions such as json_path_query_first(), jsonb_extract_path_text(), or ->> operators often trigger the problem.
CALL statements that map JSON arguments to stored-procedure parameters with stricter types also raise the same condition.
First validate the JSON path so only compatible values reach the cast. Next, apply explicit casts like CAST(value AS integer) or use safe conversion helpers (jsonb_to_record()).
Finally, wrap questionable casts in a CASE expression to skip incompatible rows.
Selecting phone numbers stored as strings but casting to bigint fails. Strip non-digits or keep them as text before the cast.
Updating a numeric column with jsonb_extract_path_text(doc,'price')::numeric fails when price is "N/A". Filter rows WHERE jsonb_typeof(doc->'price')='string' AND doc->>'price' ~ '^[0-9.]+'.
Always inspect jsonb_typeof() results before casting. Store data as jsonb with proper types from the start.
Implement CHECK constraints that validate structure on insert.
Use Galaxy's AI copilot to highlight unsafe casts in the editor and suggest jsonb_to_recordset() patterns that guarantee type safety.
sql_json_no_item - occurs when the JSON path matches nothing. Provide a default value with COALESCE.
invalid_json_text - raised when JSON is malformed. Validate JSON before storage.
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Attempting to cast a JSON string like "abc" to integer immediately triggers the error.
Mixed arrays where some elements are numeric and others are objects cause failures during aggregate casts.
JSON path returning SQL NULL is still cast, but a missing key returns no item, which is then cast and fails.
Text values containing invalid UTF-8 bytes cannot be converted to PostgreSQL text and raise the error.
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No. PostgreSQL follows the SQL standard and stops on incompatible casts instead of silently converting.
Yes. The cast rules apply to both types because the SQL/JSON path layer sits above the storage format.
No. That setting controls string escaping, not JSON type casting.
Galaxy's AI copilot scans your query AST and warns when a JSON cast lacks a preceding type check, reducing runtime failures.
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