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Description

This error indicates that the database catalog (or database name) specified in a connection string or SQL command does not exist or is inaccessible. It typically occurs when attempting to connect to a non-existent database or referencing a database that has been dropped or renamed.

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Error Message

invalid catalog name

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Known Causes

4 known causes

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Non-existent Database Name

The database name provided in the connection string or SQL query does not correspond to any existing database on the PostgreSQL server.

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Typographical Error

A simple typo in the database name within the connection parameters or SQL command prevents the server from finding the intended catalog.

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Database Renamed or Dropped

The target database may have been renamed or permanently removed from the PostgreSQL server, making the original name invalid.

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Incorrect Case Sensitivity

Although PostgreSQL typically folds unquoted identifiers to lowercase, if a database was created with mixed-case and quoted, then subsequent unquoted references will fail.

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Solutions

4 solutions available

1. Verify Database Name easy

Check database exists and spelling is correct

1

List all databases

\l
-- or
SELECT datname FROM pg_database;

2

Connect without database first

psql -U postgres
-- Then list databases:
\l

2. Create the Database easy

Create database if it doesn't exist

1

Create database

CREATE DATABASE mydb;

2

Create with owner

CREATE DATABASE mydb OWNER myuser;

3

Create with specific encoding

CREATE DATABASE mydb
  WITH OWNER = myuser
  ENCODING = 'UTF8'
  LC_COLLATE = 'en_US.UTF-8'
  LC_CTYPE = 'en_US.UTF-8';

3. Fix Connection String easy

Check database name in connection

1

Verify connection string

# Format:
postgresql://user:password@host:5432/database_name

# Common mistake - wrong database name:
postgresql://user:pass@localhost/myDB  # Case matters!
postgresql://user:pass@localhost/mydb  # Correct if database is lowercase

4. Restore from Backup medium

Restore database if accidentally dropped

1

Create empty database first

CREATE DATABASE mydb;

2

Restore from pg_dump backup

pg_restore -U postgres -d mydb backup.dump
# or for SQL format:
psql -U postgres -d mydb < backup.sql

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Related Errors

5 related errors

PostgreSQL Error 3D000: Invalid Catalog Name