Syntax error in dynamic SQL in pl/pgsql function

Question

I am using pl/pgsql in PostgreSQL 10, to create complex queries. I am testing a query with a couple of JOINs and ANDs. This is what I have so far:

DROP FUNCTION IF EXISTS search_person(name text);
CREATE  FUNCTION search_person(name text) RETURNS TABLE(address_id integer, address_geom text, event_name text) AS $$
--DECLARE 

BEGIN
    RETURN QUERY EXECUTE 
    'SELECT address.id, event.name, address.geom 
    FROM  event JOIN person JOIN address JOIN person_address JOIN event_person
    WHERE 
    person_address.event_id = event.id AND
    event_person.event_id = event.id AND
    person.id = event_person.person_id AND
    person.name like
    $1'        

    USING name;
END;
$$
LANGUAGE plpgsql;

I get no errors while creating this function. I call it like so select search_person('nick'); and I get:

ERROR:  syntax error at or near "WHERE"
LINE 3:     WHERE 
            ^
QUERY:  SELECT address.id, event.name, address.geom 
    FROM  event JOIN person JOIN address JOIN person_address JOIN event_person
    WHERE 
    person_address.event_id = event.id AND
    event_person.event_id = event.id AND
    person.id = event_person.person_id AND
    person.name like
    $1
CONTEXT:  PL/pgSQL function search_creator(text) line 5 at RETURN QUERY
SQL state: 42601

I cannot see or fix the problem. I tried replacing AND with || in the WHERE clause, but nothing changed.

What should I do?

EDIT

This is the code I have now and I get an empty table, even though I should get results, according to my database data that I checked.

CREATE  FUNCTION search_person(name character(600)) RETURNS TABLE(address_id bigint, address_geom geometry, event_name character(200)) AS $$

BEGIN
    RETURN QUERY EXECUTE 
    'SELECT address.id, address.geom, event.name        

    FROM
    person 
    JOIN event_creator ON event_person.person_id = person.id
    JOIN event ON event.id = event_person.event_id 
    JOIN person_address ON person_address.event_id = event.id 
    JOIN address ON address.id = cep.address_id

    WHERE person.name LIKE $1'
    USING name;

END;
$$
LANGUAGE plpgsql;

Answer 1

When creating a PL/pgSQL function, the function body is saved as string literal as is. Only superficial syntax checks are applied. Contained statements are not actually executed or tested on a deeper level.

However, basic syntax errors like you have in your query string would still be detected in actual SQL statements. But you are using dynamic SQL with EXECUTE. The statement is contained in a nested string literal and is your responsibility alone.

This seems to be misguided to begin with. There is no apparent reason for dynamic SQL. (Unless you have very uneven data distribution and want to force Postgres to generate a custom plan for each input value.)

If you had used a plain SQL statement, you would have gotten the error message at creation time:

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION search_person(name text)  -- still incorrect!
  RETURNS TABLE(address_id integer, address_geom text, event_name text) AS
$func$
BEGIN
   RETURN QUERY
   SELECT address.id, event.name, address.geom 
   FROM  event JOIN person JOIN address JOIN person_address JOIN event_person
   WHERE 
   person_address.event_id = event.id AND
   event_person.event_id = event.id AND
   person.id = event_person.person_id AND
   person.name like $1;  -- still $1, but refers to func param now!
END
$func$  LANGUAGE plpgsql;

The SQL statement is still invalid. [INNER] JOIN requires a join condition - like Nick commented. And I don't see the need for PL/pgSQL at all. A simple SQL function should serve well:

CREATE FUNCTION search_person(name text)
  RETURNS TABLE(address_id integer, address_geom text, event_name text) AS
$func$
   SELECT a.id, a.geom, e.name  -- also fixed column order to match return type
   FROM   person         AS p
   JOIN   event_person   AS ep ON ep.person_id = p.id
   JOIN   event          AS e  ON e.id = ep.event_id
   JOIN   person_address AS pa ON pa.event_id = e.id
   JOIN   address        AS a  ON a.id = pa.address_id -- missing join condition !!
   WHERE  p.name LIKE $1;
$func$  LANGUAGE sql;

I rewrote the query to fix syntax error, using table aliases for better readability. Finally, I also added one more missing condition based on an educated guess: a.id = pa.address_id.

Now it should work.

Related:

• plpgsql function not inserting data as intended
• Difference between language sql and language plpgsql in PostgreSQL functions

Or no function at all, just use a prepared statement instead. Example:

• Split given string and prepare case statement

If you need dynamic SQL after all, pass values with the USING clause like you had it and make sure to defend against SQL injection when concatenating queries. Postgres provides various tools:

• SQL injection in Postgres functions vs prepared queries
• Define table and column names as arguments in a plpgsql function?
• Table name as a PostgreSQL function parameter