When encountering the error 22019: Invalid Escape Character
in a PostgreSQL database, follow these steps to investigate and resolve the issue:
- Identify the query causing the error. Review the application logs or the PostgreSQL log file to find the exact query that triggered the error. This step is crucial to understand where the problem lies.
- Check the query syntax, particularly focusing on string literals or escape sequences. Look for backslashes (
\
) used in the query. PostgreSQL requires you to escape backslashes by doubling them (\\
) or by using the E
syntax (e.g., E'\\'
) to explicitly start an escape string. - If the query uses LIKE or SIMILAR TO operators, ensure that any escape characters used are correctly specified. If you're attempting to use a custom escape character, verify its correct usage in the query. For example, in a LIKE clause, you might need to specify the escape character explicitly:
LIKE 'pattern' ESCAPE '\'
. - Run a corrected version of the problematic query directly in the PostgreSQL command-line interface (psql) or through a GUI tool to ensure it executes without errors. For example:
SELECT * FROM your_table WHERE your_column LIKE 'your\\_pattern' ESCAPE '\\';
- If the error persists, consider adjusting the database parameter
standard_conforming_strings
to on
, which changes the handling of backslashes in string literals. This setting is on by default in PostgreSQL versions 9.1 and above. You can check the current setting by executing: SHOW standard_conforming_strings;
- If it's necessary to change it, you can:
SET standard_conforming_strings = on;
- Note: Changing this setting might have implications on how strings are processed in your application. It's generally recommended to adjust the application code for proper escape handling instead of changing this database setting.
- After adjusting your query or the database setting, monitor the application and database logs for any recurrence of the error.
These steps should help identify and rectify the issue causing the 22019: Invalid Escape Character
error in PostgreSQL.