jackc/pgx · error

invalid tsvector format: expected position number

Error message

invalid tsvector format: expected position number

What it means

consumePosition expected a decimal position number after ':' or ',' in a lexeme's position list, but no digits were found at the current position (e.g. 'a:,' or 'a:x').

Solutions

1. Write positions as decimal numbers, e.g. 'a:1,2 b:3'
2. Remove stray ':' or ',' after lexemes without positions
3. Regenerate the tsvector with to_tsvector

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at pgtype/tsvector.go:428 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/766a215ac97a2f4b. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at pgtype/tsvector.go:428

			break
		}

		p.consume() // skip ','
	}

	return positions, nil
}

// consumePosition consumes a single position number with optional weight letter.
func (p *tsvectorParser) consumePosition() (TSVectorPosition, error) {
	start := p.pos

	for !p.atEnd() && p.peek() >= '0' && p.peek() <= '9' {
		p.consume()
	}

	if p.pos == start {
		return TSVectorPosition{}, fmt.Errorf("invalid tsvector format: expected position number")
	}

	num, err := strconv.ParseUint(p.str[start:p.pos], 10, 16)
	if err != nil {
		return TSVectorPosition{}, fmt.Errorf("invalid tsvector format: invalid position number %q", p.str[start:p.pos])
	}

	pos := TSVectorPosition{Position: uint16(num), Weight: TSVectorWeightD}

	// Check for optional weight letter
	if !p.atEnd() {
		switch p.peek() {
		case 'A', 'a':
			pos.Weight = TSVectorWeightA
		case 'B', 'b':
			pos.Weight = TSVectorWeightB
		case 'C', 'c':
			pos.Weight = TSVectorWeightC

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