error_on_null() — PostgreSQL built-in function

error_on_null(): check if input is the null value. PostgreSQL miscellaneous functions — signature, volatility, version applicability and an illustrative example.

The Sev-1 Admin
The Sev-1 Admin  ·  2 min read

Summary

error_on_null is a PostgreSQL built-in function in the Miscellaneous Functions group. PostgreSQL’s system catalog (pg_proc) describes it as: “check if input is the null value”.

Signature

error_on_null(anyelement) → anyelement

Argument and return types are taken from the pg_proc catalog; internal type names are shown using their readable SQL spellings (for example int4 is shown as integer). (Derived from the catalog — see the linked reference for the canonical documentation.)

Classification

  • Category: Miscellaneous Functions
  • Kind: Function
  • Volatility: IMMUTABLE — Marked IMMUTABLE — it always returns the same result for the same arguments and can be used in indexes and other contexts that require immutability.
  • Returns: anyelement

Example

Illustrative form (replace placeholder values with your own data):

SELECT error_on_null(1);

The example above is illustrative and is meant to show calling syntax only; consult the linked PostgreSQL documentation for exact semantics, edge cases and accepted argument combinations.

Version applicability

Based on the catalog across releases, error_on_null first appears in PostgreSQL 19 (development / upcoming release). It is present in: 19.

PostgreSQL 19 is still in development; functions introduced on the master branch may change before the final release.

Related & references

Reference: PostgreSQL documentation — Miscellaneous Functions.