Error 22026 means PostgreSQL found a mismatch between a string’s actual length and the length required by a cast, column, or function.
PostgreSQL Error 22026 (string_data_length_mismatch) occurs when the length of a text, bit, or bytea value does not match the length demanded by a cast, column definition, or function argument. Trim or pad the value or change the target type length to resolve the error.
PostgreSQL Error 22026
PostgreSQL throws error 22026 when it expects a string to have an exact length but receives one that is shorter or longer. The term “string” covers text, bit strings, and bytea values. The engine aborts the statement to protect data integrity.
The check is enforced during casts, inserts, updates, and function calls that specify an exact length.
The most frequent example is casting a literal such as '101' to bit(4), which demands four bits but receives only three.
The error appears immediately during statement execution. Common triggers include INSERT or UPDATE into fixed-length columns, explicit CAST operations, and function calls where a length-qualified argument is required. It affects all supported PostgreSQL versions.
Leaving the error unresolved blocks data writes and can break application workflows.
Repeated failures may create back-pressure on job queues, leading to timeouts and service degradation. Correcting the length mismatch restores normal operation and prevents silent truncation risks.
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Using CAST or :: to convert a literal or column value to bit(n) or varbit(n) where n does not equal the actual bit length triggers error 22026.
If the table has a CHECK(length(col)=n) constraint, any value whose length differs from n fails with string_data_length_mismatch.
Extensions and built-in functions that accept bit(32) or char(8) arguments validate the input size and raise 22026 when the requirement is unmet.
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No. VARCHAR silently accepts shorter values and rejects only over-length data with 22001. 22026 targets fixed-length types or checks that demand exact length.
Only indirectly. Multibyte characters change char_length computations, so a string that appears eight characters long could exceed the expected byte length and raise 22026.
PostgreSQL enforces it at parse time, so you cannot disable it. Adjust the data or schema instead.
Galaxy’s SQL editor highlights cast length mismatches in real time and its AI copilot suggests rpad or length-free varbit casts, preventing 22026 before execution.
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