Error
Error Code:
1411
MariaDB Error 1411: Incorrect Value for Function Argument
Description
This error indicates that a function in your SQL statement has received an argument with a value or data type that is not compatible with what the function expects. It typically occurs when you provide an invalid input for a function parameter, preventing the function from executing correctly and leading to a runtime error.
Error Message
Incorrect %s value: '%s' for function %s
Known Causes
3 known causesData Type Mismatch
The argument provided to the function has a data type (e.g., string instead of number) that does not match the function's expected parameter type.
Value Out of Range
The argument's value is outside the acceptable range for the function's parameter (e.g., a negative number for a function expecting positive integers or an invalid date component).
Incorrect Literal Format
A literal value (such as a date, time, or spatial data string) is not formatted according to the function's parsing rules, leading to an uninterpretable input.
Solutions
3 solutions available1. Verify Function Argument Data Types and Values easy
Ensure the data type and value of the argument passed to the function match its expected signature.
1
Identify the specific function and the argument causing the error from the error message. The format is 'Incorrect %s value: '%s' for function %s'. The first '%s' is the expected data type, the second '%s' is the incorrect value, and the third '%s' is the function name.
Example: 'Incorrect VARCHAR value: '123a' for function CONCAT_WS'2
Consult the MariaDB documentation for the specific function to understand its expected argument types and valid value ranges.
Example: For `CONCAT_WS`, check its documentation for expected separator and string arguments.3
Review your SQL query and the data being passed to the function. Correct any data type mismatches or invalid values. For instance, if a function expects an integer but receives a string with non-numeric characters, you'll need to clean or cast the data.
If a function expects a number and you're passing a string like '123a', cast it to a numeric type if possible, or ensure the source data is clean:
`SELECT CAST('123' AS UNSIGNED INTEGER) FROM your_table;`
Or, if it's a string concatenation issue, ensure all parts are strings:
`SELECT CONCAT_WS(',', 'part1', 'part2') FROM your_table;`2. Inspect and Correct Data Source for Function Arguments medium
Trace the origin of the incorrect data and fix it at the source or during data insertion/update.
1
Determine which table and column(s) are providing the data for the function argument that is causing the error.
If the error occurs during a `SELECT` statement, identify the column involved in the function call.2
Query the relevant table to inspect the data in the problematic column. Look for values that do not conform to the expected data type or format.
SELECT problematic_column FROM your_table WHERE ...;
Look for unexpected characters, incorrect formats (e.g., dates not in YYYY-MM-DD format if expected), or values outside a defined range.3
If the data is incorrect, update the existing records in the table to correct the values.
UPDATE your_table SET problematic_column = 'correct_value' WHERE id = ...;
For example, to clean up a numeric column that might have non-numeric characters:
`UPDATE your_table SET numeric_column = CAST(REPLACE(REPLACE(numeric_column, 'a', ''), 'b', '') AS UNSIGNED INTEGER) WHERE ...;`4
If this error occurs during data insertion or updates, modify your application code or data import scripts to ensure that valid data is being provided.
Example (conceptual application code):
javascript
const valueFromUser = getUserInput();
if (!isValidNumeric(valueFromUser)) {
throw new Error('Invalid input: must be a number.');
}
// Proceed with database operation
3. Review and Adjust Function Usage in Stored Procedures or Views medium
Examine the logic within stored procedures or views where the problematic function is called.
1
If the error occurs within a stored procedure, view, or trigger, locate the code that calls the function with the incorrect argument.
Use `SHOW CREATE PROCEDURE procedure_name;` or `SHOW CREATE VIEW view_name;` to get the definition.2
Analyze the data flow and logic leading up to the function call. Identify how the arguments are being generated or passed.
Trace variable assignments and conditional logic within the procedure/view.3
Add intermediate steps or debugging within the stored procedure/view to inspect the values of the arguments just before they are passed to the function. This might involve using `SELECT` statements within the procedure or setting session variables.
Example within a stored procedure:
sql
DECLARE my_variable VARCHAR(255);
-- ... logic to set my_variable ...
SELECT CONCAT('Value before function: ', my_variable) AS debug_message;
-- Call the function here
SELECT some_function(my_variable);
4
Modify the logic to ensure that the arguments are correctly formatted or converted before being passed to the function. This might involve using `COALESCE`, `CAST`, `IFNULL`, or string manipulation functions.
Example: Ensuring a nullable column is treated as a string for `CONCAT_WS`:
sql
SELECT CONCAT_WS(',', COALESCE(nullable_column, ''), 'default_value') FROM your_table;