One or more parameter values were invalid

TL;DR — DynamoDB accepted the request shape but rejected a specific value inside it: an empty Set, an empty string in a key, a value whose type doesn't match the schema, or a null where one isn't allowed. Read the rest of the message — it names the exact parameter — and fix that value.

What it means

ValidationException: One or more parameter values were invalid: <specific reason>

This is a ValidationException (HTTP 400) whose message body pinpoints one value that broke a rule — AWS documents the message only as "varies, depending upon the specific error(s) encountered". The prefix is generic; the important part is what follows it — for example that an AttributeValue may not contain an empty string for a key, that a set may not be empty, or that a key value's type doesn't match the schema. It is not retryable as-is; the value has to change.

Why it happens

Typical reasons the message tail spells out (the exact wording varies by case):

• An empty string or binary value in a key attribute — non-key strings and binary values are allowed to be empty; table and index keys are not.
• An empty set — an SS/NS/BS with zero members. Sets must be non-empty everywhere; empty lists and maps are fine.
• A type mismatch for a key (e.g. expected: S actual: N) — the value's type doesn't match the table's key schema.
• A null value passed to an attribute that doesn't accept it, or a marshaller emitting null for an undefined field.
• A value out of range for its type (see number overflow).

How to fix it

1. Read the full message. DynamoDB names the offending parameter and the exact rule — that string is the fix.
2. Give keys real values — never an empty string or empty binary in a partition/sort key.
3. Drop empty sets — omit the attribute when a Set has no members, or store a scalar/NULL instead.
4. Match types to the schema — send a numeric key as a number, a string key as a string; don't cross the wrappers.
5. Strip undefined/null from the item before writing (the Document Client's removeUndefinedValues option handles the common case).

FAQ

What does "One or more parameter values were invalid" mean? A specific value in your request breaks a DynamoDB rule — most often an empty string in a key, an empty Set, a type that doesn't match the key schema, or a disallowed null. The full message names the exact parameter and reason.

Why does an empty string only fail sometimes? DynamoDB allows empty strings for non-key attributes but rejects them in key attributes. An empty string in a partition or sort key raises "An AttributeValue may not contain an empty string"; the same value in a regular attribute is accepted.

Related errors

• Supplied AttributeValue is empty — an item attribute with no typed value at all.
• The provided key element does not match the schema — a key type/shape mismatch.
• ValidationException (overview)
• Learn: DynamoDB data types

References

• Error handling with DynamoDB — Amazon DynamoDB Developer Guide
• Supported data types and naming rules in Amazon DynamoDB — Amazon DynamoDB Developer Guide
• AttributeValue — Amazon DynamoDB API Reference

Last verified 2026-07-13 against the official AWS documentation linked above.