22P06WARNINGTier 3 — Handle with care✅ HIGH confidence

nonstandard use of escape character

Category: Data ExceptionVersions: All Postgres versions

What this means

SQLSTATE 22P06 is a Postgres-specific warning raised when a string literal uses a backslash escape (e.g., \n, \t) in a context where standard_conforming_strings is ON, making the backslash a literal character rather than an escape. This indicates portability risk.

Why it happens

1Using escape sequences like \n or \t in a regular string literal when standard_conforming_strings = on
2Code written for old Postgres versions (before 9.1) that used backslash escapes in ordinary string literals

How to reproduce

Using \n in a plain string literal with standard_conforming_strings = on.

trigger — this will ERROR

SELECT 'Hello\nWorld'; -- \n is literal backslash+n, not newline

WARNING: nonstandard use of \\ in a string literal

Fix 1: Use escape string syntax (E prefix) when you need escape sequences

When the string genuinely requires escape sequences like \n or \t.

fix

SELECT E'Hello\nWorld'; -- E prefix enables escape processing

Why this works

The E prefix explicitly enables escape processing regardless of standard_conforming_strings, making the intent clear and portable.

Fix 2: Use dollar-quoting for strings with backslashes

When the backslash is intended as a literal character.

fix

SELECT $Hello\World$;

Why this works

Dollar-quoted strings treat backslashes literally and suppress this warning.

What not to do

✗

Set standard_conforming_strings = off to suppress the warning

Why it's wrong: This is a deprecated mode and will be removed. Fix the string literals instead.

Version notes

Postgres 9.1+standard_conforming_strings defaults to ON. Escape sequences in plain strings are deprecated.

Sources

📚 Official docs: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/errcodes-appendix.html

🔧 Source ref: Class 22 — Data Exception (Postgres-specific)

Confidence assessment

✅ HIGH confidence

Postgres-specific warning. Behaviour documented and stable since 9.1.