Error 42622 indicates that an identifier such as a table, column, or index name exceeds PostgreSQL’s 63-byte length limit.
PostgreSQL Error 42622 (name_too_long) occurs when an identifier exceeds the 63-byte length limit. Shorten the table, column, or index name to 63 characters or fewer, then rerun the statement to resolve the error.
PostgreSQL Error 42622
PostgreSQL raises error 42622 when an object name exceeds the maximum length of 63 bytes. The database truncates longer names internally, so uniqueness and reference checks fail, triggering the name_too_long condition.
The error appears during CREATE, ALTER, or other DDL statements that introduce or rename identifiers. Fixing it quickly prevents schema inconsistencies and application breakage.
Object names longer than 63 bytes violate PostgreSQL’s catalog limits.
Long auto-generated names from ORMs, migrations, or concatenated prefixes commonly trigger the exception.
Version upgrades do not change the limit, so legacy scripts that worked on other systems can fail immediately on PostgreSQL.
Rename the identifier to 63 characters or fewer, rerun the DDL, and update dependent objects.
Use abbreviations or remove redundant prefixes to keep names short but clear.
For generated constraint or index names, override the default with EXPLICIT names inside the CREATE statement to stay under the limit.
1. ORMs generating long index names - supply a custom name field.
2. dbt models with long schema prefixes - configure the model alias.
3.
Microservice prefixes in table names - standardize a concise naming convention across services.
Establish naming guidelines that cap length well below 63 characters. Automate lint checks in CI to block overly long identifiers before they reach production.
Galaxy’s SQL editor highlights identifier lengths in real time, helping engineers shorten names before running queries.
SQLSTATE 42710 duplicate_object - happens when truncation causes duplicate names.
Resolve by shortening and adding uniqueness.
SQLSTATE 42P07 duplicate_table - appears if a truncated long table name collides with an existing one. Rename or drop the conflicting table.
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PostgreSQL stores at most 63 bytes for any identifier. Multibyte characters count toward the byte limit.
No. Only the unqualified object name is measured, but long schemas plus long object names still hurt readability.
Not safely. The limit is compiled into PostgreSQL. Patching the source requires a fork and catalog rebuild.
Galaxy’s editor warns when an identifier nears 63 characters and suggests shorter alternatives, reducing runtime failures.
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