How to fix ERROR 1064: Syntax error near in MySQL

MySQL provides helpful error output that includes the location of the syntax error. The message format is:

You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '<problem area>' at line X

The text shown after "near" pinpoints the problematic area. Focus your search on that location and surrounding code.

Review your query for common misspellings:

-- Wrong (typo)
SLECT * FROM users;

-- Correct
SELECT * FROM users;

Also verify keywords like INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, WHERE, FROM, JOIN, GROUP BY, ORDER BY are spelled correctly.

If you use MySQL reserved words (SELECT, FROM, WHERE, ORDER, GROUP, etc.) as table or column names, wrap them in backticks:

-- Wrong (reserved word without backticks)
SELECT order FROM products;

-- Correct
SELECT `order` FROM products;

Do NOT use single (') or double (") quotes for identifiers—those are for string literals only.

Check that:
- All opening parentheses have matching closing ones
- String values are enclosed in single quotes (e.g., 'John')
- Column lists have commas between items
- All semicolons are at the end of complete statements

-- Wrong (missing closing parenthesis)
SELECT * FROM users WHERE id IN (1, 2, 3;

-- Correct
SELECT * FROM users WHERE id IN (1, 2, 3);

-- Wrong (unquoted string)
SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = John;

-- Correct
SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = 'John';

If migrating from MySQL 5.0 or earlier, update deprecated commands:

-- Old (deprecated in MySQL 4.1, removed in 5.1)
CREATE TABLE users (id INT) TYPE=InnoDB;

-- New
CREATE TABLE users (id INT) ENGINE=InnoDB;

Check the MySQL Reference Manual for your version to identify deprecated features.

Tools like MySQL Workbench (official tool from MySQL) provide real-time syntax checking and highlighting. They catch 1064 errors before you execute:

- MySQL Workbench: Free, official, includes SQL editor with error highlighting
- SQL Fiddle: Web-based SQL testing tool
- Your IDE: Many code editors have SQL extensions with syntax validation

Copy your query into one of these tools to get instant feedback.

Syntax varies between MySQL versions. Verify your MySQL version:

SELECT VERSION();

Then check the MySQL Reference Manual for your version. Features added in MySQL 8.0 will not work on 5.7. If you're using syntax from a newer version on an older server, you'll see error 1064.