22023

At a glance

A named parameter, option, descriptor, or function argument is outside the domain accepted by its owner. Fixed representatives cover built-in GUC parsing, amcheck descriptors/options, postgres_fdw option validation, and regular-expression option checks; the primary text identifies the owner and value.

The retained PostgreSQL 18.6 and 10.21 observations use the same autocommit case: SET work_mem = 'not-a-memory-size' returned SQLSTATE 22023 with invalid value for parameter "work_mem": "not-a-memory-size"; SET work_mem = '1MB' repaired it and SHOW work_mem returned 1MB. Both backends were IDLE after the error and repair. The selected case is the built-in GUC path, not a general result for every 22023 owner; see the public case JSON.

SET work_mem = 'not-a-memory-size';
SET work_mem = '1MB';
SHOW work_mem;

Representative messages

These examples share 22023 but belong to separate owners:

Meaning

22023 is a shared parameter-validation code whose mechanism belongs to the named owner. Built-in GUC parsing first converts Boolean, integer, real, string, or enum values, checks integer/real ranges and units such as B/MB or time units, then invokes parameter-specific check hooks; setting context and permissions are separate constraints. verify_heapam instead checks required non-NULL descriptors and enumerated skip values, postgres_fdw parses numeric/string options and positive bounds, and regexp functions validate option letters or function parameters. These groups share the SQLSTATE but not one universal value domain.

Diagnosis

Start with the command, function, or extension named by the primary message. For a GUC, inspect the parameter’s type, accepted units/range, and whether the current setting context permits the change; for an extension or function, follow its own option list and bounds. The exact work_mem case above demonstrates a bad GUC value and a valid unit-bearing repair only. Do not infer the repair for amcheck, postgres_fdw, regexp, or another parameter from that case.

Response

Correct the value according to the owning parameter’s documented domain, including its unit and setting context where applicable. In an explicit transaction, a statement-level ERROR requires ROLLBACK or ROLLBACK TO SAVEPOINT before continuing; an autocommit client can retry the corrected action. In the retained autocommit case the same backend remained IDLE after the error and repair.

Versions

The locked catalogue records this condition from 7.4; fixed source coverage is PostgreSQL 18.6. The retained observation covers the named work_mem case on PostgreSQL 18.6 and 10.21.

Related

22003, 22025

Sources

Representative built-in GUC conversion/range/check-hook paths are src/backend/utils/misc/guc.c#L3129-3320 and #L6804-6990, with unit tables at #L87-181 and setting-context handling at #L3342-3430, alongside contrib/amcheck/verify_heapam.c#L271-303, contrib/postgres_fdw/option.c#L149-185, and src/backend/utils/adt/regexp.c#L443-446. The structured evidence record retains exact messages, runtime digests, and owner-specific limits.