42883 — Undefined function

At a glance

42883 is undefined_function: lookup found no compatible function for the requested name and input types. The same condition is also used by the parser’s undefined-operator branch. The case calls a schema-qualified integer function signature before it exists.

Meaning

The parser resolves name, schema visibility, input types, and overloads together. The selected function group reports function %s does not exist and hints that no function matches the name and argument types; a sibling parse_oper.c branch reports operator does not exist: %s with the corresponding operator hint under the same SQLSTATE. Distinguish 42725 (candidates but ambiguous) and 42846 (a chosen expression cannot be cast). Inspect pg_proc/identity arguments for functions and pg_operator plus operand types for operators. An extension-provided routine or operator may simply be unavailable on this server or version, so availability is part of the diagnosis.

Diagnosis

Capture the fully rendered name and signature. Query pg_proc with pg_get_function_identity_arguments for functions, and inspect pg_operator and both operand types for operators. Verify current_schema and search_path without assuming a different path is correct; check whether the object is a function, procedure, operator, or extension-provided feature. For extension/version candidates, inspect installed extension metadata and server_version_num before changing SQL.

Response

Call the intended signature explicitly, or create that exact function in the intended schema when you own the API. If the missing object is supplied by an extension or newer server feature, install or enable the intended dependency only when it is part of the deployment contract; do not create a substitute merely because the lookup failed. Do not blindly alter search_path or add casts, since they can select another routine or operator. The case creates missing_function(integer) and returns 42. In an explicit transaction, the error leaves INERROR until rollback or a suitable savepoint; the selected autocommit error leaves IDLE.

Observed diagnostics

The selected parser function group is explicit ERROR: primary function %s does not exist, hint No function matches the given name and argument types. You might need to add explicit type casts. The source-only operator group is also ERROR: primary operator does not exist: %s; with two known operand types its hint is No operator matches the given name and argument types. You might need to add explicit type casts., while a missing operand uses the singular type form. These are distinct producers sharing 42883.

Representative case

The runner calls the missing schema-qualified function, checks the expanded signature and state, creates the exact integer signature, and repeats the call.

SELECT syntax_schema.missing_function(41);
CREATE FUNCTION syntax_schema.missing_function(integer) RETURNS integer LANGUAGE SQL AS 'SELECT $1 + 1';
SELECT syntax_schema.missing_function(41);

The selected 18.6 and 10.21 runs passed SQLSTATE, severity, state/recovery, repair, cleanup, and isolated-target stop assertions. See case JSON and authored evidence; private manifest and registry hashes are recorded there.

Versions

The locked catalogue contains this condition from the 7.4 presence bound through the listed snapshots. The selected natural case passed on PostgreSQL 18.6 and 10.21; that bounded result does not infer every intermediate release or every source branch.

Related

• 42723
• 42725
• 42846

Sources

• src.errcodes.REL_18_6 — fixed definition at 724edf9bde9d356724ad384a2e196edc3c9f80f7; SHA-256 6e8de346643ba84aa3c9c6a73360acfc7b2dfb89162c06c08ce9bf5bcd5bbcba (source).
• src.undefined-function.18.6 — src/backend/parser/parse_func.c lines 629–636 at 724edf9bde9d356724ad384a2e196edc3c9f80f7; blob SHA-256 48314eab022297478ac4e49786afaff2621ab7b1d7b50e156668cf477961384f (source).
• src.undefined-function.10.23 — src/backend/parser/parse_func.c lines 521–528 at 02991e79f8f58bc208f05dcc8af0c62dbe0a6ea4; blob SHA-256 f1b4af88565ca01dbad2b244cd26b42f34764b3f1343b22a9231e271fb0742f2 (source).
• src.undefined-operator.18.6 — src/backend/parser/parse_oper.c lines 619–644 at 724edf9bde9d356724ad384a2e196edc3c9f80f7; blob SHA-256 3866ce3302c2a4bd22d0f1d113a4bbc627278a618d5e7b83660e36240cbdd0a8 (source).
• src.undefined-operator.10.23 — src/backend/parser/parse_oper.c lines 706–728 at 02991e79f8f58bc208f05dcc8af0c62dbe0a6ea4; blob SHA-256 5802db6d55bdb41f9cad4957384fa2c2ddbb4dc902c33f5f57e8a07760761d10 (source).
• src.calls.REL_18_6 / src.calls.REL_10_23 — fixed call scans, SHA-256 9ee8a0e81d8f0825c5c1ae45583439859a26e602bdd4ce2f2a62aa278867ccbf / 00d16d3eb01b71ccf1b245c8f3102f9d0ec9f36fb02777b8dd1b99fcb263040c.
• manifest.42883 / snippet-registry.42883 — hashes are recorded in evidence/42883.json and each runtime record.