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Description

MariaDB Error 1365, 'Division by 0', occurs when an arithmetic operation attempts to divide a number by zero. This is mathematically undefined and the database raises this error to prevent invalid results. It typically indicates an issue with data values or the calculation logic within SQL queries.

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Error Message

Division by 0

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Known Causes

3 known causes

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Invalid Input Data

Queries operate on data that has not been properly validated, leading to a divisor column or variable containing a zero value.

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Incorrect Query Logic

The SQL query's arithmetic expressions or formulas inadvertently produce a zero in the divisor position for certain rows or conditions.

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Empty or Zero-Sum Aggregations

Aggregate functions or custom calculations involving `SUM()` might result in a zero divisor when no rows match a condition or all relevant values sum to zero.

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Solutions

4 solutions available

1. Handle Zero Denominators with NULLIF easy

Use the NULLIF function to return NULL for zero denominators, preventing division by zero.

1

Identify the division operation in your SQL query where the denominator could be zero.

2

Wrap the denominator with the `NULLIF()` function. This function returns NULL if the two arguments are equal, otherwise it returns the first argument. If the denominator is 0, `NULLIF(denominator, 0)` will return NULL.

SELECT numerator / NULLIF(denominator, 0) FROM your_table;

3

Handle the resulting NULL values. You can use `COALESCE()` to replace NULLs with a default value (e.g., 0 or a specific indicator).

SELECT COALESCE(numerator / NULLIF(denominator, 0), 0) FROM your_table;

2. Conditional Division with CASE Statement easy

Use a CASE statement to check for zero denominators before performing division.

1

Locate the division operation in your SQL query.

2

Implement a `CASE` statement. The `WHEN` clause checks if the denominator is not equal to zero. If it's not zero, perform the division. The `ELSE` clause handles cases where the denominator is zero, returning a default value (e.g., 0).

SELECT
    CASE
        WHEN denominator <> 0 THEN numerator / denominator
        ELSE 0 -- Or any other desired default value
    END AS result
FROM your_table;

3. Data Validation and Cleansing medium

Prevent zero values from appearing in columns that serve as denominators.

1

Analyze your data model and identify columns that are used as denominators in calculations.

2

Implement data validation at the application level or using database constraints (e.g., `CHECK` constraints) to prevent zero values from being inserted or updated into these columns.

ALTER TABLE your_table ADD CONSTRAINT chk_non_zero_denominator CHECK (denominator <> 0);

3

If existing data contains zero denominators, run a script to update these values to a sensible default or NULL, depending on your business logic.

UPDATE your_table SET denominator = NULL WHERE denominator = 0;

4. Application-Level Error Handling medium

Catch division by zero errors in your application code.

1

Identify the specific queries or stored procedures that are causing the division by zero error.

2

In your application code (e.g., Python, PHP, Java), wrap the execution of these SQL statements within a try-catch block.

try:
    cursor.execute("SELECT numerator / denominator FROM your_table;")
    results = cursor.fetchall()
except mariadb.Error as e:
    if e.errno == 1365: # MariaDB Error Code for Division by Zero
        print("Error: Division by zero encountered. Handling gracefully.")
        # Implement your error handling logic here (e.g., log, return default value)
    else:
        print(f"An unexpected MariaDB error occurred: {e}")

3

Inside the catch block, specifically check for the MariaDB error code 1365 and implement appropriate fallback logic, such as returning a default value or logging the error.

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Related Errors

5 related errors

MariaDB Error 1365: Prevent Division by Zero Errors