SQLSTATE P0001 ERROR Class P0: PL/pgSQL Error

raise_exception … — P0001

PostgreSQL error "…" (SQLSTATE P0001): what it means, common causes, and how to fix it.

PG 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 Official docs
Last reviewed May 2025 Grounded in source

Diagnostic Queries

Symptoms

This is the generic message produced by a PL/pgSQL RAISE EXCEPTION (or RAISE without an explicit SQLSTATE). The text is whatever the function supplied, and PostgreSQL assigns SQLSTATE P0001 (raise_exception) by default.

  • A user-defined function deliberately raised an error.
  • The message text comes from your own code.
  • Default SQLSTATE is P0001 unless overridden.

What the server log shows

ERROR:  Insufficient balance for account 4021
CONTEXT:  PL/pgSQL function transfer_funds(integer,numeric) line 12 at RAISE

Why PostgreSQL raises this — what the manual says

Section 41.9.1 Reporting Errors and Messages:

“Use the RAISE statement to report messages and raise errors.”

PL/pgSQL’s RAISE EXCEPTION is how application logic signals errors. Unless you specify USING ERRCODE or a condition name, PostgreSQL reports the custom text under P0001.

Common causes

  • Your function executed a RAISE EXCEPTION branch (a business-rule violation).
  • A validation check in PL/pgSQL failed intentionally.
  • A library/extension raised a custom exception.

How to fix it

  1. Read the message and CONTEXT to find the function and line that raised it.
  2. Fix the input/state that triggered the business-rule check, or adjust the rule.
  3. Assign a specific SQLSTATE via RAISE … USING ERRCODE = '…' so callers can branch on it.

Related & next steps

Reference: PostgreSQL 18 Section 43.9 “Errors and Messages”.

Was this helpful?