In this tutorial, we will discuss what this error means and its possible causes and explore some techniques that you can use to resolve this error.

What Does the “Postgres Relation Doe Not Exist” Error Mean?

The “postgres relation does not exist” error in PostgreSQL occurs when you reference a table or relation that does not exist in the currently selected database.

You may also find the same error as “Did not find any relation named” which indicates something similar.

Causes of the “Postgres Relation Does Not Exist” Error

Several reasons can cause this error. The most common causes include:

Table/Relation Not Created – The primary cause of this error is the missing table or relation that you are referencing. This can happen if the table or relation is not created or a spelling error.

Schema Mismatch – Another cause of this error is attempting to access a given relation or table in the incorrect schema. PostgreSQL supports multiple schemas. If you reference the relation in a different schema, it may result in this error.

Case Sensitivity – PostgreSQL, by default, treats the identifiers as case-insensitive unless quoted. Therefore, if the casing of the relation name in the query does not match the actual casing in the database, it may result in this error.

Missing Permissions – Finally, the insufficient privileges or missing permissions can prevent you from executing the query and accessing the referenced table or relation.

The given causes are some common causes of the “postgres relation does not exist” error in the PostgreSQL server.

Solutions to the “Postgres Relation Does Not Exist” Error

The following are some steps that you can take to resolve this error:

Ensure that the Table/Relation Exists
The most common solution is ensuring that the table or relation that you are referencing exists on the currently selected schema. Similarly, ensure that you do not have types or incorrect casing in the relation’s name.

Specify the Schema
If the table exists but is not in the default schema, include the correct schema name when referencing the relation in the query.

For example, if the table is in the “public” schema, use “public.relation_name” in the query.

Name Casing
Pay attention to the case sensitivity of relation names in PostgreSQL. Therefore, ensure that the case of the relation name in the query matches the case that is used when creating the table or relation.

Permissions and Privileges
Another solution that you can attempt is to check the user’s privileges on the target relation. Then, you can use the SQL GRANT query to assign the necessary permissions to the target user.

Database Refresh
Sometimes, this error may occur when accessing a newly created table/relation. Once you create or modify a new relation, it may take some time to be accessible in your current session. The solution is to refresh the current database to reload the changes.

Conclusion

We explored what the “Postgres relation does not exist” error means, the possible causes, and the potential solutions to resolve it.