hibernate/hibernate-orm · error · QueryException

Can't emulate json_arrayagg filter clause when using 'null o

Error message

Can't emulate json_arrayagg filter clause when using 'null on null' clause.

What it means

Error "Can't emulate json_arrayagg filter clause when using 'null on null' clause." thrown in hibernate/hibernate-orm.

Source

Thrown at hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/dialect/function/json/SQLServerJsonArrayAggFunction.java:64

		final JsonNullBehavior nullBehavior;
		if ( sqlAstArguments.size() > 1 ) {
			nullBehavior = (JsonNullBehavior) sqlAstArguments.get( 1 );
		}
		else {
			nullBehavior = JsonNullBehavior.ABSENT;
		}
		final SqlAstNode firstArg = sqlAstArguments.get( 0 );
		final Expression arg;
		if ( firstArg instanceof Distinct distinct ) {
			sqlAppender.appendSql( "distinct " );
			arg = distinct.getExpression();
		}
		else {
			arg = (Expression) firstArg;
		}
		if ( caseWrapper ) {
			if ( nullBehavior != JsonNullBehavior.ABSENT ) {
				throw new QueryException( "Can't emulate json_arrayagg filter clause when using 'null on null' clause." );
			}
			translator.getCurrentClauseStack().push( Clause.WHERE );
			sqlAppender.appendSql( "case when " );
			filter.accept( translator );
			translator.getCurrentClauseStack().pop();
			sqlAppender.appendSql( " then " );
			renderArgument( sqlAppender, arg, nullBehavior, translator );
			sqlAppender.appendSql( " else null end)" );
		}
		else {
			renderArgument( sqlAppender, arg, nullBehavior, translator );
		}
		sqlAppender.appendSql( ",',')" );
		if ( withinGroup != null && !withinGroup.isEmpty() ) {
			translator.getCurrentClauseStack().push( Clause.WITHIN_GROUP );
			sqlAppender.appendSql( " within group (order by " );
			withinGroup.get( 0 ).accept( translator );
			for ( int i = 1; i < withinGroup.size(); i++ ) {

View on GitHub (pinned to fad1729dce)

Solutions

1. Use ABSENT ON NULL, or remove the FILTER clause.

When it happens

Trigger: Triggered when the application calls a Hibernate dialect feature that the configured database dialect cannot provide: Can't emulate json_arrayagg filter clause when using 'null on null' clause (SQL Server).

Common situations: Common when running against a database whose dialect lacks this capability, when a mapping or HQL/Criteria query requests unsupported functionality, or when the wrong dialect is configured for the database in use. Error: Can't emulate json_arrayagg filter clause when using 'null on null' clause (SQL Server).

AI-assisted analysis of hibernate/hibernate-orm@fad1729dce (2026-08-22). Data as JSON: /api/errors/4a90c5620458f4c9. Report an issue: GitHub.