---
title: "DB2 – ILLEGAL Symbol"
description: "DB2 Illegal symbol error and resolution"
url: https://srinimf.com/2011/12/18/db2-illegal/
date: 2011-12-18
modified: 2026-10-10
author: "Srini"
image: https://i0.wp.com/srinimf.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/pexels-photo-1986996.jpeg?fit=1880%2C1253&ssl=1
categories: ["DB2"]
tags: ["db2", "Empty", "Illegal Symbol"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# DB2 – ILLEGAL Symbol

I found an explanation for this error in IBM site as follows…read on. -104 ILLEGAL SYMBOL ***“token”.*** SOME SYMBOLS THAT MIGHT BE LEGAL ARE:*** token-list Explanation***

A syntax error was detected where the symbol “token” occurs in the SQL statement. The list of symbols that might be legal shows some alternate symbols that could possibly be correct at that point, if the preceding part of the statement is entirely correct. However, the preceding part of the statement might be incorrect.

> What is -104 error?

For example, if an important keyword is omitted, DB2® detects the error later, and not always immediately after the point where the keyword should appear.

Related[DB2 SQL Error Codes You Always Need](https://srinimf.com/2010/10/23/sql_error_codes/)

The list of alternate symbols are only suggestions. Some of those symbols might not even be legal for statements to be [executed by DB2](https://srinimf.com/2015/01/28/db2-sql-error-codes-104-and-199/).

Related[How to Join 3 Tables—Without Join Keyword](https://srinimf.com/2021/04/24/how-to-sql-query-to-join-three-tables/)

Those symbols are possibly correct for statements sent to other database management systems. This SQLCODE will also be issued if the RELEASE TO SAVEPOINT statement is specified without a savepoint name.

The other way round we get this error:

*DSNH104I E  DSNHSM10 LINE yy COL yy  ILLEGAL SYMBOL “”.          SOME SYMBOLS THAT MIGHT BE LEGAL ARE: CORRELATION NAME*

More understanding refer  [detail1](http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/dzichelp/v2r2/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.ibm.db2z9.doc.codes%2Fsrc%2Ftpc%2Fdb2z_n.htm) and [detail2](https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg1PK74108).

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