name too long
SQLSTATE 42622 is raised when an identifier (table name, column name, constraint name, etc.) exceeds the maximum length allowed by Postgres. By default, the maximum identifier length is 63 bytes (NAMEDATALEN - 1).
- 1An identifier exceeds 63 bytes (the default NAMEDATALEN limit)
- 2Auto-generated constraint names (e.g., from long table and column name combinations) exceed 63 bytes
Creating a column with a name exceeding 63 bytes.
CREATE TABLE t ( this_column_name_is_way_too_long_to_fit_in_the_postgres_name_limit_of_63_bytes TEXT );
expected output
ERROR: identifier "this_column_name_is_way_too_long_to_fit_in_the_postgres_name_limit_of_63_bytes" will be truncated to "this_column_name_is_way_too_long_to_fit_in_the_postgres_na"
Fix 1
Shorten the identifier to 63 bytes or fewer
WHEN When creating long-named objects.
CREATE TABLE t ( long_description_column TEXT -- shortened );
Why this works
Postgres silently truncates identifiers that are too long (with a warning). To avoid the truncation and potential name collisions, use explicitly shorter names.
Fix 2
Explicitly name auto-generated constraints with short names
WHEN When auto-generated constraint names may be too long.
ALTER TABLE orders ADD CONSTRAINT fk_orders_cust FOREIGN KEY (customer_id) REFERENCES customers(id);
Why this works
Providing an explicit short constraint name prevents auto-generated names from being truncated in ways that may clash.
NAMEDATALEN is a compile-time constant defaulting to 64 (max identifier = 63 bytes). Rebuilding Postgres from source with a higher NAMEDATALEN is possible but non-standard.
Class 42 — Syntax Error or Access Rule Violation
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