When I try to create a function in PostgreSQL, I get ERROR: syntax error at or near "BEGIN"

Question

I'm trying to create a function, like so:

CREATE FUNCTION RETURNONE(DATE)
BEGIN
  RETURN 1;
END

However, when I run this in psql 9.5 I get the following error:

ERROR:  syntax error at or near "BEGIN"
LINE 2: BEGIN
        ^
END

I did see this other StackOverflow thread with a reminiscent problem. Per the second answer, I re-encoded my code in UTF 8, which did nothing. This is my first ever SQL function, so I'm sure I'm missing something painfully obvious. Let me know what!

@muistooshort Honestly, I read that exact page. I don't know why, but I just assumed all that LANGUAGE and $func$ stuff wasn't necessary. In retrospect, rereading it, it's obvious. Thanks! — Alex V
– Alex V, Commented Feb 27, 2019 at 1:32
About that " $func$ stuff": stackoverflow.com/a/12172353/939860 — Erwin Brandstetter
– Erwin Brandstetter, Commented Feb 27, 2019 at 2:19

Erwin Brandstetter · Accepted Answer · 2019-02-27 01:19:50Z

1

You omitted some essential syntax elements:

CREATE FUNCTION returnone(date)
  RETURNS integer
  LANGUAGE plpgsql AS
$func$
BEGIN
  RETURN 1;
END
$func$;

The manual about CREATE FUNCTION.

answered Feb 27, 2019 at 1:19

Erwin Brandstetter

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4 Comments

Alex V Over a year ago

Wow, this did it. I read that exact document twice, don't know how I came out so wrong. Thanks a billion!

user330315 Over a year ago

@seisvelas Unrelated, but: you don't need PL/pgSQL for something like that. A simple language sql function would be more efficient if you don't have any procedural code (if, while, or similar constructs) in your function

Alex V Over a year ago

@a_horse_with_no_name Interesting! I'm a complete beginner, how would this work using language sql?

user330315 Over a year ago

@seisvelas: essentially removing begin and end and replace return with select. See here: rextester.com/KITLW87371

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