Error
Error Code:
1411
MySQL Error 1411: Incorrect Value for Function Argument
Description
This error indicates that a MySQL function was called with an argument whose value is incompatible with the function's expected data type, format, or range. It typically occurs when attempting to pass an invalid literal or an incorrectly formatted string to a function that requires a specific type, such as a number, date, or time.
Error Message
Incorrect %s value: '%s' for function %s
Known Causes
3 known causesData Type Mismatch
A function expects a specific data type (e.g., integer, date), but receives a value of an incompatible type (e.g., a non-numeric string for a numeric operation).
Invalid Value Format
The supplied value does not conform to the required format for the function (e.g., an invalid date string for a date parsing function).
Out-of-Range Value
A function receives a numeric or date value that falls outside the acceptable range for that function's operation or target data type.
Solutions
3 solutions available1. Validate Function Argument Data Type and Format easy
Ensure the data type and format of the argument passed to the function match its expected signature.
1
Identify the function and the specific argument causing the error. The error message `Incorrect %s value: '%s' for function %s` will typically show the problematic value and the function name.
2
Consult the MySQL documentation for the function in question to understand the expected data type and format of each argument. For example, if the function expects an integer but you're passing a string, or if a date function receives an improperly formatted date string.
3
Modify your SQL query to provide the argument in the correct format and data type. This might involve casting, converting, or simply correcting the value.
Example: If a function `MY_DATE_FUNCTION` expects a date in 'YYYY-MM-DD' format and you provided 'DD/MM/YYYY':
Incorrect:
`SELECT MY_DATE_FUNCTION('25/12/2023');`
Correct:
`SELECT MY_DATE_FUNCTION(STR_TO_DATE('25/12/2023', '%d/%m/%Y'));`
Or if a function expects an integer and you're passing a string that cannot be implicitly converted:
Incorrect:
`SELECT MY_INT_FUNCTION('abc');`
Correct:
`SELECT MY_INT_FUNCTION(CAST('123' AS UNSIGNED));`2. Check for NULL Values in Expected Non-NULL Arguments easy
Verify that you are not passing NULL to a function argument that explicitly requires a non-NULL value.
1
Examine the SQL statement that triggers the error. Pay close attention to any arguments that are being passed as NULL.
2
Refer to the MySQL documentation for the specific function to confirm if it supports NULL arguments. Many aggregate functions and some string/mathematical functions do not accept NULLs.
3
Modify your query to handle NULL values. This could involve using `IFNULL()` or `COALESCE()` to provide a default value, or filtering out rows where the argument would be NULL before calling the function.
Example: If a function `CALCULATE_SUM` does not accept NULLs and you have a column `value` that can be NULL:
Incorrect:
`SELECT CALCULATE_SUM(value) FROM my_table;`
Correct (using IFNULL):
`SELECT CALCULATE_SUM(IFNULL(value, 0)) FROM my_table;`
Correct (filtering):
`SELECT CALCULATE_SUM(value) FROM my_table WHERE value IS NOT NULL;`3. Review Stored Procedures or User-Defined Functions (UDFs) medium
If the error occurs within a stored procedure or UDF, debug the logic and argument passing within that code.
1
Identify if the error originates from within a stored procedure or a user-defined function. The call stack might provide clues.
2
Examine the definition of the stored procedure or UDF. Look for the specific function call that is failing and the arguments being passed to it.
3
Trace the values of the variables or columns being passed as arguments to the problematic function. Use `SELECT` statements or debugging tools within the stored procedure to inspect these values at runtime.
Example within a stored procedure:
`DELIMITER //
CREATE PROCEDURE my_procedure(input_val INT)
BEGIN
DECLARE processed_val VARCHAR(100);
-- ... other logic ...
SET processed_val = CONCAT('Prefix_', input_val); -- Example of potential issue
-- SELECT processed_val; -- Uncomment for debugging
SELECT SOME_FUNCTION(processed_val);
END //
DELIMITER ;`4
Correct any incorrect data types, formats, or NULL values passed within the stored procedure or UDF, similar to the first two solutions.