apache/cassandra · error · InvalidRequestException

Invalid set literal for

Error message

Invalid set literal for %s: bind variables are not supported inside collection literals

What it means

Fired during set-literal preparation when any element of a set literal is a bind marker (Terms.NON_TERMINAL containing a marker). Collection literals may only contain constants/literals, not '?' bind variables, so preparation fails immediately before element type checking.

Solutions

1. Replace the bind marker (?) or named variable inside the set literal with a literal element value
2. Bind the entire collection as one variable instead of individual elements inside the literal

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at src/java/org/apache/cassandra/cql3/terms/Sets.java:167 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of apache/cassandra@88fd0f6a0e (2026-09-10). Data as JSON: /api/errors/4b6b69fa540c341b. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/java/org/apache/cassandra/cql3/terms/Sets.java:167

        public Term prepare(String keyspace, ColumnSpecification receiver) throws InvalidRequestException
        {
            validateAssignableTo(keyspace, receiver);

            // We've parsed empty maps as a set literal to break the ambiguity so
            // handle that case now
            if (receiver.type instanceof MapType && elements.isEmpty())
                return new MultiElements.Value(((MapType<?, ?>) receiver.type), Collections.emptyList());

            ColumnSpecification valueSpec = Sets.valueSpecOf(receiver);
            List<Term> values = new ArrayList<>(elements.size());
            boolean allTerminal = true;
            for (Term.Raw rt : elements)
            {
                Term t = rt.prepare(keyspace, valueSpec);

                if (t.containsBindMarker())
                    throw new InvalidRequestException(String.format("Invalid set literal for %s: bind variables are not supported inside collection literals", receiver.name));

                if (t instanceof Term.NonTerminal)
                    allTerminal = false;

                values.add(t);
            }
            MultiElements.DelayedValue value = new MultiElements.DelayedValue((MultiElementType<?>) receiver.type.unwrap(), values);
            return allTerminal ? value.bind(FunctionContext.NONE) : value;
        }

        private void validateAssignableTo(String keyspace, ColumnSpecification receiver) throws InvalidRequestException
        {
            AbstractType<?> type = receiver.type.unwrap();

            if (!(type instanceof SetType))
            {
                // We've parsed empty maps as a set literal to break the ambiguity so
                // handle that case now

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