2200CERRORTier 2 — Caution✅ HIGH confidence

invalid use of escape character

Category: Data ExceptionVersions: All Postgres versions

What this means

SQLSTATE 2200C is raised when an escape character is used in a context where it is not permitted — for example, using an escape clause in a pattern-matching operation that does not support it.

Why it happens

1Specifying an ESCAPE clause for a SIMILAR TO or other pattern operator that does not accept an escape character in the current context

How to reproduce

Invalid escape character usage in a pattern context.

trigger — this will ERROR

ERROR: invalid use of escape character

Fix 1: Remove the ESCAPE clause or use it with a supported operator

When combining ESCAPE with an operator that does not support it.

fix

Why this works

ESCAPE is only valid with LIKE and in some uses of SIMILAR TO. Check the Postgres pattern matching documentation for supported combinations.

Sources

📚 Official docs: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/errcodes-appendix.html

🔧 Source ref: Class 22 — Data Exception

Confidence assessment

✅ HIGH confidence

Standard SQLSTATE. Rare in practice.