ORA-01861: Literal Does Not Match Format String: How Can I Fix This Database Error?

ORA-01861: Understanding the Error Message

When attempting to insert data into a relational database, you may encounter the enigmatic error message ORA-01861: literal does not match format string. This error indicates a discrepancy between the expected data format for a specific column and the format of the literal value you are attempting to insert.

Cause of the Error

The error typically arises when the literal value provided does not adhere to the format specified in the format string. The format string is determined by the data type of the column and specifies how values should be formatted when inserted. For instance, a date column might use the format string 'YYYY-MM-DD'. If you attempt to insert a date in the format 'MM/DD/YYYY', it will trigger this error.

Resolving the Issue

To resolve the error, you must ensure that the literal value you are inserting matches the format specified by the format string. In this particular case, where the error is ORA-01861: literal does not match format string, you will need to modify the string literal '1989-12-09' to comply with the expected date format.

Suggested Solution

The given solution suggests replacing the string literal '1989-12-09' with the following expression:

TO_DATE('1989-12-09','YYYY-MM-DD')

This expression uses the TO_DATE function to convert the string literal into a date value using the 'YYYY-MM-DD' format string. By applying this conversion, you ensure that the value matches the format expected by the database for the DOB column, resolving the ORA-01861 error.

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