PostgreSQL error 27000 occurs when a trigger function attempts to modify data in a way that violates SQL standards or PostgreSQL trigger rules. This typically happens when a trigger tries to modify the same table that triggered it, creating recursion or constraint violations.
Error 27000 indicates a "Triggered data change violation" in PostgreSQL. This error is raised when a trigger function attempts to modify data in a manner that violates the rules governing trigger behavior in PostgreSQL. The most common cause is when a trigger function tries to directly modify the same table that caused the trigger to fire, or when an AFTER trigger attempts to modify rows that have already been affected by the original statement. This is a data integrity protection mechanism. PostgreSQL enforces strict rules about what operations can occur within trigger contexts to prevent inconsistent or unexpected data modifications. When these rules are violated, PostgreSQL raises error 27000 to halt the operation and prevent potential data corruption.
First, identify the trigger function that is raising the error. Use the PostgreSQL system catalogs to view the trigger definition:
SELECT tgname, tgfoid, tgtype FROM pg_trigger WHERE tgname = 'your_trigger_name';Then view the trigger function code:
SELECT prosrc FROM pg_proc WHERE oid = (SELECT tgfoid FROM pg_trigger WHERE tgname = 'your_trigger_name');The most common cause of error 27000 is attempting to modify the same table inside the trigger. If your trigger needs to perform updates, consider these alternatives:
Option 1: Use a separate table for audit/tracking data
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION audit_changes()
RETURNS TRIGGER AS $$
BEGIN
INSERT INTO audit_log (table_name, operation, changed_at)
VALUES (TG_TABLE_NAME, TG_OP, NOW());
RETURN NEW;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;Option 2: If you must modify data, use BEFORE trigger instead of AFTER
CREATE TRIGGER prevent_invalid_data
BEFORE UPDATE ON my_table
FOR EACH ROW
EXECUTE FUNCTION validate_and_fix_data();If your trigger modifies data that could trigger itself again, you will get error 27000. Break the recursion:
Option 1: Use a flag to disable the trigger temporarily
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION update_modified_date()
RETURNS TRIGGER AS $$
BEGIN
IF (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM pg_stat_activity WHERE query LIKE '%update_modified_date%') > 1 THEN
RETURN NEW; -- Skip if already executing
END IF;
NEW.modified_at = NOW();
RETURN NEW;
END;
$$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;Option 2: Disable and re-enable the trigger programmatically
ALTER TABLE my_table DISABLE TRIGGER trigger_name;
-- perform operations --
ALTER TABLE my_table ENABLE TRIGGER trigger_name;Use BEFORE triggers when you need to modify data being inserted or updated. AFTER triggers are better for logging/auditing because the data has already been committed:
-- BEFORE trigger: can modify NEW or OLD
CREATE TRIGGER normalize_data
BEFORE INSERT OR UPDATE ON my_table
FOR EACH ROW
EXECUTE FUNCTION normalize_columns();
-- AFTER trigger: data already committed, use for side effects
CREATE TRIGGER log_changes
AFTER INSERT OR UPDATE ON my_table
FOR EACH ROW
EXECUTE FUNCTION log_to_audit_table();Create a test environment and thoroughly test your trigger with various data scenarios:
-- Test INSERT
INSERT INTO my_table (column1, column2) VALUES ('test', 'data');
-- Test UPDATE
UPDATE my_table SET column1 = 'updated' WHERE id = 1;
-- Test DELETE
DELETE FROM my_table WHERE id = 1;
-- Monitor for errors
SET log_statement = 'all';If error 27000 appears, review the error message and check which operation triggered it.
Understanding Trigger Visibility and Constraints: In PostgreSQL, the visibility of data changes within triggers follows strict rules. Statement-level BEFORE triggers see no changes made by the statement, while AFTER triggers see all modifications. Row-level BEFORE triggers execute before the row is modified and can alter the NEW row. The restriction on modifying the triggering table is enforced at the SQL level, not the procedural level, so even attempting to modify the same table indirectly (via function calls or deferred constraints) may trigger error 27000 in certain scenarios. For complex data modification requirements, consider using PostgreSQL events (LISTEN/NOTIFY) or application-level logic instead of nested trigger modifications. In high-concurrency environments, ensure your trigger logic respects transaction isolation levels and lock behavior.
insufficient columns in unique constraint for partition key
How to fix "insufficient columns in unique constraint for partition key" in PostgreSQL
ERROR 42501: must be owner of table
How to fix "must be owner of table" in PostgreSQL
trigger cannot change partition destination
How to fix "Trigger cannot change partition destination" in PostgreSQL
SSL error: certificate does not match host name
SSL error: certificate does not match host name in PostgreSQL
No SSL connection
No SSL connection to PostgreSQL