Why do I get a syntax error when creating a PostgreSQL function?

Question

I am trying to create a function in PostgreSQL using this query:

create function cs.has_double_bridge(cs.nose_bridge_type) returns boolean as $$
  return $1 = 'double bridge';
$$ language plpgsql stable;

But I keep getting an error on the second line:

ERROR:  syntax error at or near "return"
LINE 2:   return $1 = 'keyhole';
          ^

I am not an expert in PostgreSQL, so I haven't been able to figure out the cause of the error. What am I doing wrong here?

user330315 · Accepted Answer · 2019-08-02 18:36:17Z

1

As documented in the manual PL/pgSQL requires a BEGIN ... END block:

create function cs.has_double_bridge(cs.nose_bridge_type) 
  returns boolean 
as $$
begin
  return $1 = 'double bridge';
end;
$$ language plpgsql stable;

Alternatively you can use a SQL function instead:

create function cs.has_double_bridge(cs.nose_bridge_type) 
  returns boolean 
as $$
  select $1 = 'double bridge';
$$ language sql stable;

answered Aug 2, 2019 at 18:36

user330315

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2 Comments

mipadi Over a year ago

Ah! I had it wrapped in begin/end but I think perhaps I had them indented... I'm not sure if that matters or not, so maybe I had another mistake.

Jeremy Over a year ago

Nope, the indentation does not matter.

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