ORA-06502: PL/SQL: numeric or value error: character string buffer too small

ORA-06502: PL/SQL: numeric or value error: character string buffer too small error occurs when the length of the character string exceeds the length of the declared character type variable,. The value cannot be assigned to the variable if the size of the value passed in the database exceeds the size of the variable declared. The error ORA-06502: PL/SQL: numeric or value error: character string buffer too small would be thrown by the oracle. The error occurs because the output value saved in that variable is longer than it was declared.

The length of the string should not exceed the size of the data type declared in the variable. The string can be stored in the variable in this case. If the length of the character string exceeds the declared variable size, the character string cannot be saved. If the character is attempted to be assigned to the attribute, an exception would be thrown.



Exception

The error will be described as follows. The line number identifies the location of the error. The variable data size is larger than the value size. The following error has been thrown.

declare
    empid varchar2(3);
begin
    empid := 'A101';
end;
Error report -
ORA-06502: PL/SQL: numeric or value error: character string buffer too small
ORA-06512: at line 4
06502. 00000 -  "PL/SQL: numeric or value error%s"

Two ORA errors can be seen in the error stack trace. The first error code is shown alongside the error message. The second error code indicates which line the error happened on. The error indicates that the declared string variable’s size is insufficient in comparison to the value assigned to it.



Problem

The character string cannot be allocated if the length of the string exceeds the size of the declared data type variable. The error can be repeated in this scenario. The database is attempting to assign the variable a string. The error would be thrown since the string is longer than the variable’s length.

In the example below, the value has four characters. The variable is declared to be three characters long. The length of the string value exceeds the length of the declared variable. The error ORA-06502:PL/SQL: numeric or value error: character string buffer too small would be thrown if the value is assigned to a variable that is smaller in size.

declare
    empid varchar2(3);
begin
    empid := 'A101';
end;

Output

declare
    empid varchar2(3);
begin
    empid := 'A101';
end;
Error report -
ORA-06502: PL/SQL: numeric or value error: character string buffer too small
ORA-06512: at line 4
06502. 00000 -  "PL/SQL: numeric or value error%s"


Cause

An arithmetic, numeric, string, conversion, or constraint error occurred. For example, this error occurs if an attempt is made to assign the value NULL to a variable declared NOT NULL, or if an attempt is made to assign an integer larger than 99 to a variable declared NUMBER(2).



Action

Change the data, how it is manipulated, or how it is declared so that values do not violate constraints.



Solution 1

The size of the value passed in Oracle PS./SQL exceeds the declared character data type size. To accommodate the value, the variable data type should be modified. The character data type’s size should be increased. If the size of the character data type is reached to maximum size of the data type, the different data type should be used to accommodate the larger value.

declare
    empid varchar2(4);
begin
    empid := 'A101';
end;

Output

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.


Solution 2

It’s essential to double-check the PL/SQL value. It’s possible that the value was passed to the variable inappropriately or that there was an error in the method. The value will be stored in the variable if it is corrected.

declare
    empid varchar2(4);
begin
    empid := '101';
end;

Output

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.


Solution 3

In most instances, the value assigned would be within the declared data type’s range. The length of the value sometimes reaches the declared data type size. We can’t adjust the data type size in this situation. The exception should be handled and taken action in the PL/SQL code.

declare
    empid varchar2(3);
begin
    empid := 'A101';
exception
    WHEN OTHERS THEN
        empid :=0;
end;

Output

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.



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