SQLite syntax error 🗃️ SQL

sqlite3.OperationalError: near "x": syntax error

SQLite couldn’t parse the statement; the token after “near” is where it stopped.

Seen on: SQL

Meaning

Reserved words as identifiers, unsupported syntax from other databases (ALTER COLUMN, RIGHT JOIN in old versions), or placeholders in the wrong place.

Common causes

  • Reserved word as a column name (order, group)
  • MySQL/PostgreSQL-only syntax
  • Parameter placeholders for table/column names

⚡ Quick fix

  1. Quote identifiers with double quotes
  2. Check SQLite’s supported syntax for your version
  3. Only parameterize values, not identifiers

Detailed fix by platform

SQL

  1. SELECT "order", total FROM sales;

How to diagnose

  1. Token — Which one after "near"?
  2. Version — sqlite3 --version

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