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:

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

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.

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