jackc/pgx · error

invalid array value

Error message

invalid array value: %w

What it means

A wrapper guard around arrayParseValue while scanning element text inside the '{...}' body: the element parser returned an error (e.g. unterminated quoted value), and it is re-wrapped as 'invalid array value'. The fault is in the element text, not the surrounding structure.

Solutions

1. Inspect the wrapped error to find the offending element text
2. Fix quoting/escaping of element values (double quotes and backslashes must be escaped in quoted elements)
3. Re-encode the value via PostgreSQL or a pgx array encoder rather than hand-building the literal

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at pgtype/array.go:215 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/16f4630d156fa7c9. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at pgtype/array.go:215

		}

		switch r {
		case '{':
			if currentDim == counterDim {
				implicitDimensions[currentDim].Length++
			}
			currentDim++
		case ',':
		case '}':
			currentDim--
			if currentDim < counterDim {
				counterDim = currentDim
			}
		default:
			buf.UnreadRune()
			value, quoted, err := arrayParseValue(buf)
			if err != nil {
				return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid array value: %w", err)
			}
			if currentDim == counterDim {
				implicitDimensions[currentDim].Length++
			}
			dst.Quoted = append(dst.Quoted, quoted)
			dst.Elements = append(dst.Elements, value)
		}

		if currentDim < 0 {
			break
		}
	}

	skipWhitespace(buf)

	if buf.Len() > 0 {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unexpected trailing data: %v", buf.String())
	}

View on GitHub (pinned to ec1a0befd2)