The invalid_cursor_name error (code 34000) occurs when a FETCH, MOVE, CLOSE, or UPDATE/DELETE WHERE CURRENT OF references a cursor name that does not exist or has already been closed.
invalid_cursor_name (PostgreSQL error 34000) signals that the cursor you referenced was never opened or is already closed. Recreate or reopen the cursor in the same transaction, or correct the cursor name to resolve the error.
PostgreSQL Error 34000
The PostgreSQL error "invalid_cursor_name" (SQLSTATE 34000) is raised when a statement refers to a cursor identifier that is unknown to the current session or transaction block. PostgreSQL cannot locate the cursor in its internal catalog, so it aborts the command.
The failure usually appears during FETCH, MOVE, CLOSE, or positioned UPDATE/DELETE statements.
Because cursors live only for the duration of the transaction that created them, any mismatch in scope, name, or lifecycle invalidates the reference and triggers this runtime error.
Referencing a cursor before issuing DECLARE is the most common trigger. Typos or case-sensitivity issues in the cursor name also lead to failure.
A COMMIT or ROLLBACK that ends the transaction holding the cursor silently drops the cursor, so later commands in a new transaction cannot see it.
When a PL/pgSQL loop declares a cursor inside the loop body, each iteration may overwrite the name. Exiting the block closes the cursor, and subsequent statements outside the block receive invalid_cursor_name.
Always DECLARE the cursor before using it and keep all operations inside the same transaction.
Verify the spelling of the cursor name and ensure it matches exactly, including case. When using explicit cursors in client code, wrap statements in BEGIN ... COMMIT to preserve scope.
If your workflow spans multiple function calls, pass the entire refcursor value rather than the plain name, or redesign the logic to open and close the cursor within a single function call.
Autocommit mode in psql commits after each statement.
Switching to a single transaction with \set AUTOCOMMIT off or wrapping commands in BEGIN prevents the cursor from disappearing.
In PL/pgSQL, declare the cursor WITH HOLD to make it survive COMMIT. A WITH HOLD cursor lives until the session ends or CLOSE is called.
Name cursors consistently with a prefix such as cur_ and store them in variables instead of hardcoding.
Close cursors explicitly in a FINALLY block to avoid resource leaks.
When working in Galaxy’s SQL editor, use snippets or the AI copilot to insert BEGIN, DECLARE, FETCH, and CLOSE as a block, ensuring scope correctness and preventing invalid_cursor_name.
SQLSTATE 25P01 (no_active_sql_transaction) arises if you attempt to COMMIT outside a transaction block. SQLSTATE 34000 may appear in sequence with 25P01 when application code mismanages transactions.
SQLSTATE 42P01 (undefined_table) occurs for missing relations.
The troubleshooting approach is similar: confirm object existence before referencing it.
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Issuing DECLARE, then committing, and later running FETCH opens a new transaction where the cursor no longer exists.
PostgreSQL cursor names are case-sensitive unless double-quoted. A single character mismatch produces invalid_cursor_name.
Calling CLOSE or leaving the PL/pgSQL block that declared the cursor disposes of it.
Any further reference is invalid.
Redeclaring the same cursor name per iteration closes the previous one, so later outer statements fail.
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Yes. Autocommit commits after each statement, closing the cursor. Wrap commands in BEGIN ... COMMIT or disable autocommit to keep the cursor alive.
Only if the cursor was declared WITH HOLD. Otherwise the cursor dies at COMMIT, and any further FETCH raises invalid_cursor_name.
Yes. Unless double-quoted, PostgreSQL folds names to lower case. Mismatched case between DECLARE and FETCH will raise the error.
Galaxy’s AI copilot generates complete transaction blocks, ensuring DECLARE and FETCH stay in scope. The editor’s linting warns when FETCH appears outside the originating transaction.
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