invalid_column_definition Invalid Column Definition — SQLSTATE 42611

The server reports SQLSTATE 42611 (invalid_column_definition), a condition in the Syntax Error or Access Rule Violation class.

• The error is written to the server log and returned to the client carrying SQLSTATE 42611.
• Any driver (libpq, JDBC, psycopg, npgsql, pgx) surfaces this code in its error object so you can branch on it programmatically.
• PL/pgSQL can trap it by name: EXCEPTION WHEN invalid_column_definition THEN.

Severity: ERROR  |  PostgreSQL versions: 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

Reproduce with the exact statement and read the full message in the server log (raise log_min_messages / set log_min_error_statement for more context).

42611 belongs to Class 42 — Syntax Error or Access Rule Violation. In this class, the SQL is malformed or references a missing object or privilege.

The first two characters (42) identify the error class, so application code can match the whole class via 42000 when the specific code is not needed.

Fix the syntax at the position the error reports, verify object names/case/search_path, install any required extension, and GRANT the missing privilege.

Reference: PostgreSQL error codes — Class 42 (Syntax Error or Access Rule Violation).