ERR syntax error

A command's options are misspelled, in the wrong place, or can't be used together.

Redis returns this error when it can't make sense of a command's options. The command name is right, but the options don't follow the command's syntax.

ERR syntax error

Example

The NX and XX options of SET can't be used together:

> SET mykey "value" NX XX
(error) ERR syntax error

How to fix it

The message doesn't say which option is wrong. Compare each option with the syntax on the command's page, and look for these common mistakes:

  • Options that can't be used together, such as NX and XX in SET.
  • A misspelled option, or one your server doesn't support yet. The history section of each command page lists the version that added each option.
  • An option in the wrong place. For example, in ZADD, options such as NX go before the score and member. ZADD myset NX 1 "a" works, but ZADD myset 1 "a" NX gives this error.
  • A value with spaces that isn't quoted. In redis-cli, SET greeting hello world sends world as an extra option. Put quotes around the value: SET greeting "hello world".
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