redis/redis-py · error · DataError

frequency must be an integer

Error message

frequency must be an integer

What it means

Raised as a `DataError` by `restore()` (redis/commands/core.py:4286) when `int(frequency)` raises `ValueError`, i.e. `frequency` is provided but is not integer-coercible. RESTORE's FREQ eviction counter must be an integer.

Solutions

1. Pass an integer for `frequency`.
2. Validate/coerce before calling: `frequency = int(frequency)`.
3. Guard against None — frequency is optional and should be omitted, not passed as a string, when unused.

Example fix

// before
r.restore('k', 0, blob, frequency='5')
// after
r.restore('k', 0, blob, frequency=int('5'))

if frequency is not None:
    frequency = int(frequency)
r.restore('k', 0, blob, frequency=frequency)

def is_intlike(v) -> bool:
    try:
        int(v)
        return True
    except (TypeError, ValueError):
        return False

When it happens

Trigger: `r.restore('k', 0, blob, frequency='high')`, `r.restore('k', 0, blob, frequency='2.7')`, or any non-int value for frequency.

Common situations: Deserialized frequency values typed as strings; passing a labeled/enum frequency instead of its numeric counter; user input not sanitized.

Related errors

• idletimemust be an integer
• bit must be 0 or 1
• Both start and end must be specified
• ``byfloat`` and ``byint`` are mutually exclusive.
• ``count`` is required when ``mode`` or ``ordering`` is set

AI-assisted analysis of redis/redis-py@6a6b581b48 (2026-08-10). Data as JSON: /api/errors/551761017d40cefa. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at redis/commands/core.py:4287

        """
        params = [name, ttl, value]
        if replace:
            params.append("REPLACE")
        if absttl:
            params.append("ABSTTL")
        if idletime is not None:
            params.append("IDLETIME")
            try:
                params.append(int(idletime))
            except ValueError:
                raise DataError("idletimemust be an integer")

        if frequency is not None:
            params.append("FREQ")
            try:
                params.append(int(frequency))
            except ValueError:
                raise DataError("frequency must be an integer")

        return self.execute_command("RESTORE", *params)

    @overload
    def set(
        self: SyncClientProtocol,
        name: KeyT,
        value: EncodableT,
        ex: ExpiryT | None = ...,
        px: ExpiryT | None = ...,
        nx: bool = ...,
        xx: bool = ...,
        keepttl: bool = ...,
        get: bool = ...,
        exat: AbsExpiryT | None = ...,
        pxat: AbsExpiryT | None = ...,
        ifeq: bytes | str | None = ...,
        ifne: bytes | str | None = ...,

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