Why Am I Getting a 'Unknown Column in 'field list'' Error in My MySQL UPDATE Query?

Troubleshooting MySQL's "Unknown Column in 'field list'" Error in UPDATE Queries

MySQL UPDATE queries can sometimes throw error #1054, indicating an "unknown column in 'field list'". This often stems from incorrect quoting of column names. This guide explains a common cause and solution.

The core issue frequently arises from improper use of quotation marks. MySQL uses backticks (`) to delimit identifiers (like column names). Using single or double quotes instead will cause MySQL to treat the column name as a string literal, leading to the error.

Example and Solution:

Consider this query:

<code class="language-sql">UPDATE MASTER_USER_PROFILE, TRAN_USER_BRANCH
SET MASTER_USER_PROFILE.fellow=`y`
WHERE MASTER_USER_PROFILE.USER_ID = TRAN_USER_BRANCH.USER_ID
AND TRAN_USER_BRANCH.BRANCH_ID = 17</code>

Here, fellow (enclosed in backticks) is correctly identified as a column. However, using single or double quotes around fellow would produce the "unknown column" error.

Key Takeaway: Always use backticks (`) for column names in your MySQL queries. Reserve single or double quotes for string values. Adhering to this simple rule prevents this common error.

The above is the detailed content of Why Am I Getting a 'Unknown Column in 'field list'' Error in My MySQL UPDATE Query?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!