The PostgreSQL 42P16 invalid_table_definition error appears when a CREATE TABLE or ALTER TABLE statement uses options or column definitions that violate PostgreSQL's table design rules.
PostgreSQL invalid_table_definition (42P16) shows up when a CREATE TABLE or ALTER TABLE mixes incompatible clauses or repeats partition columns. Review the DDL, remove the conflicting definition, and rerun the command to resolve the error.
invalid_table_definition
The error code 42P16 signals that PostgreSQL parsed your CREATE TABLE or ALTER TABLE statement but rejected it because the resulting table design breaks an internal rule.
PostgreSQL enforces strict checks on identity columns, partition keys, inheritance, generated columns, and UNLOGGED flags. When two or more clauses conflict, the server raises invalid_table_definition before any data is written.
The error surfaces immediately when you execute defective DDL.
Typical moments include adding a duplicate column to the partition key, combining UNLOGGED with PARTITIONED, or defining an identity column on a partitioned table.
Because the statement never commits, no partial table is left behind. Fix the DDL then run it again to proceed.
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Specifying the same column twice in PARTITION BY or mixing hash and range clauses causes PostgreSQL to reject the table definition.
PostgreSQL disallows UNLOGGED or TEMP flags on a partitioned parent table. The engine raises 42P16 when you combine them.
Identity and generated columns cannot serve directly as partition keys.
Attempting this combination triggers invalid_table_definition.
Using both INHERITS and PARTITION BY or OF TYPE simultaneously violates PostgreSQL design rules and yields the error.
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No. PostgreSQL refuses to create or alter the table, so you must fix the DDL before proceeding.
Data is never written when 42P16 fires, so existing tables remain intact.
All supported versions from 10 onward use 42P16 for table-definition conflicts.
Galaxy’s linting engine analyses your CREATE and ALTER statements in real time and highlights clause conflicts, reducing the chance of 42P16 reaching the server.
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