2201X
PostgreSQLERRORNotableData ExceptionHIGH confidence

invalid row count in result offset clause

What this means

SQLSTATE 2201X is raised when an OFFSET clause specifies a negative row count. OFFSET must be zero or a positive integer.

Why it happens
  1. 1Using a negative integer or computed negative expression as the OFFSET argument
How to reproduce

Query with a negative OFFSET.

trigger — this will error
trigger — this will error
SELECT * FROM orders LIMIT 10 OFFSET -5;

expected output

ERROR:  OFFSET must not be negative

Fix

Clamp OFFSET to zero or above

WHEN When the OFFSET value is computed from pagination logic.

Clamp OFFSET to zero or above
SELECT * FROM orders LIMIT 10 OFFSET GREATEST(page * 10, 0);

Why this works

GREATEST ensures the offset is never negative, which can happen when page arithmetic results in a negative number.

Sources
Official documentation ↗

Class 22 — Data Exception

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