jackc/pgx · error

is greater than maximum value for int4

Error message

%d is greater than maximum value for int4

What it means

Encoding an Int64Valuer into an int4 (integer) column in binary format failed the range check: the value exceeds math.MaxInt32. The Go value whose Int64Value() is too large for integer is the faulting input.

Solutions

  1. Use an int8 parameter type for the value
  2. Validate/clamp the value to the int4 range before encoding
Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at pgtype/int.go:756 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of jackc/pgx@ec1a0befd2 (2026-08-04). Data as JSON: /api/errors/a9ace7ade6f0344c. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at pgtype/int.go:756

func (encodePlanInt4CodecTextInt32) Encode(value any, buf []byte) (newBuf []byte, err error) {
	n := value.(int32)
	return append(buf, strconv.FormatInt(int64(n), 10)...), nil
}

type encodePlanInt4CodecBinaryInt64Valuer struct{}

func (encodePlanInt4CodecBinaryInt64Valuer) Encode(value any, buf []byte) (newBuf []byte, err error) {
	n, err := value.(Int64Valuer).Int64Value()
	if err != nil {
		return nil, err
	}

	if !n.Valid {
		return nil, nil
	}

	if n.Int64 > math.MaxInt32 {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%d is greater than maximum value for int4", n.Int64)
	}
	if n.Int64 < math.MinInt32 {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%d is less than minimum value for int4", n.Int64)
	}

	return pgio.AppendInt32(buf, int32(n.Int64)), nil
}

type encodePlanInt4CodecTextInt64Valuer struct{}

func (encodePlanInt4CodecTextInt64Valuer) Encode(value any, buf []byte) (newBuf []byte, err error) {
	n, err := value.(Int64Valuer).Int64Value()
	if err != nil {
		return nil, err
	}

	if !n.Valid {
		return nil, nil

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