How to Resolve ParadeDB Syntax Errors in PostgreSQL

Galaxy Glossary

How do I fix ParadeDB syntax errors in PostgreSQL?

A ParadeDB syntax error occurs when PostgreSQL cannot parse a query that calls ParadeDB’s vector-search functions or indexes, usually due to misplaced keywords, commas, or data-type mismatches.

Sign up for the latest in SQL knowledge from the Galaxy Team!

Description

What triggers a “ParadeDB syntax error”?

PostgreSQL raises the error when it encounters invalid SQL while calling ParadeDB objects—for example, missing parentheses in CREATE INDEX ... USING hnsw, quoting JSON incorrectly inside parade.embed(), or mixing incompatible data types.

How do I identify the exact mistake quickly?

Read the error’s LINE and POSITION pointers first. Then run EXPLAIN on the failing statement or comment-out clauses until the error disappears.This isolates the fragment ParadeDB cannot parse.

What is the correct ParadeDB index-creation syntax?

Use CREATE INDEX idx_products_vec ON Products USING hnsw(embedding) WITH (m = 16, efConstruction = 200); The index method hnsw must follow USING, and WITH options need parentheses and commas.

How can I correctly call `parade.embed()` in SELECT?

Wrap the string or JSON document in single quotes and cast to jsonb if needed: SELECT parade.embed('Mega-Widget Deluxe') AS query_vec; Passing unquoted text raises a syntax error.

Can I mix ParadeDB and standard SQL filtering?

Yes.First compute similarity with <-> then filter: SELECT id, name FROM Products ORDER BY embedding <-> parade.embed('Deluxe drill') LIMIT 10; Ensure ORDER BY precedes LIMIT; otherwise PostgreSQL misreads the clause sequence.

Why does my `INSERT` fail?

Embedding columns require the vector type.Use parameter placeholders or explicit casts: INSERT INTO Products (name, price, stock, embedding) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4::vector);

Best practices to avoid ParadeDB syntax errors

• Enable psql --echo-all in development.• Keep functions and parameters on new lines.• Always cast JSON to jsonb.• Use pg_format to auto-format SQL before running.

Example end-to-end query

See the “Example Query” section below.

.

Why How to Resolve ParadeDB Syntax Errors in PostgreSQL is important

How to Resolve ParadeDB Syntax Errors in PostgreSQL Example Usage


-- Combine similarity ranking with customer context
SELECT c.id AS customer_id,
       c.name AS customer_name,
       p.id AS recommended_product_id,
       p.name AS recommended_product,
       p.price,
       p.stock
FROM   Customers c
JOIN   Orders o ON o.customer_id = c.id
JOIN   OrderItems oi ON oi.order_id = o.id
JOIN   Products p ON p.id = oi.product_id
WHERE  c.id = 42  -- target customer
ORDER  BY p.embedding <-> parade.embed('noise-cancelling headphone')
LIMIT  3;

How to Resolve ParadeDB Syntax Errors in PostgreSQL Syntax


-- 1. Install extension (once per database)
CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS parade;

-- 2. Add a vector column for product embeddings
ALTER TABLE Products ADD COLUMN embedding vector(384);

-- 3. Create an HNSW index for fast KNN search
CREATE INDEX idx_products_embedding_hnsw
    ON Products
    USING hnsw (embedding)
    WITH (M = 16, efConstruction = 200);

-- 4. Query: Find top 5 similar products to a phrase
SELECT id, name, price
FROM   Products
ORDER  BY embedding <-> parade.embed('wireless headphones')
LIMIT  5;

Common Mistakes

Forgetting parentheses after WITH options in CREATE INDEX—e.g., writing WITH m = 16, efConstruction = 200; This yields a syntax error. Always wrap options in parentheses: WITH (m = 16, efConstruction = 200).
Passing raw text to parade.embed without quotes or casting. PostgreSQL interprets the word as a column name and throws a syntax error. Wrap the argument in single quotes or cast JSON to jsonb.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I change HNSW parameters after index creation?

No. Drop and recreate the index with new M or efConstruction values.

Does parade.embed support batch embedding?

Yes. Use SELECT parade.embed_batch(array['text1','text2']) to get an array of vectors.

What PostgreSQL version is required?

ParadeDB requires PostgreSQL 15 or later for optimal vector performance.

Want to learn about other SQL terms?

dbt tests

dbt tests are declarative assertions in dbt that automatically validate data quality during model builds.

dbt utils

dbt utils is a community-maintained dbt package that adds time-saving utility macros for analytics engineers, such as generating surrogate keys, safely unioning models, and automating date spines.

dbt Tutorial Glossary: Build, Test & Deploy SQL Models

dbt is an open-source framework that lets data teams transform raw warehouse tables into tested, documented, production-ready datasets using version-controlled SQL.

Trusted by top engineers on high-velocity teams

Assort Health

Curri

Rubie