apache/cassandra · error · InvalidRequestException

Invalid set literal for

Error message

Invalid set literal for %s of type %s

What it means

Generic validation guard in Sets.prepare: the receiver column is neither a set nor (for the empty-literal ambiguity case) a map, so a set literal cannot be assigned to it. The message names the column and its actual CQL type; the input at fault is the mismatched target column of the set literal.

Solutions

1. Use a set literal only against a set-typed column; use a map literal for map columns
2. Check the target column's type with DESCRIBE and correct the statement

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at src/java/org/apache/cassandra/cql3/terms/Sets.java:189 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/8b28c2b66ce52ce4. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/java/org/apache/cassandra/cql3/terms/Sets.java:189

                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
                if ((type instanceof MapType) && elements.isEmpty())
                    return;

                throw new InvalidRequestException(String.format("Invalid set literal for %s of type %s", receiver.name, receiver.type.asCQL3Type()));
            }

            ColumnSpecification valueSpec = Sets.valueSpecOf(receiver);
            for (Term.Raw rt : elements)
            {
                if (!rt.testAssignment(keyspace, valueSpec).isAssignable())
                    throw new InvalidRequestException(String.format("Invalid set literal for %s: value %s is not of type %s", receiver.name, rt, valueSpec.type.asCQL3Type()));
            }
        }

        public AssignmentTestable.TestResult testAssignment(String keyspace, ColumnSpecification receiver)
        {
            return testSetAssignment(receiver, elements);
        }

        @Override
        public AbstractType<?> getExactTypeIfKnown(String keyspace)
        {

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