Error: ValidationException: Invalid KeyConditionExpression: Attribute name is a reserved keyword;

Answered by Rafal Wilinski
Solution
DynamoDB has a list of reserved keywords that you cannot use in your queries or scans directly. Paste your expression into the reserved words checker to see which names need a placeholder. If you need to write an expression that contains one of them, you need to use ExpressionAttributeNames to replace reserved word with a placeholder. For example, this query with reserved keyword:
params = {
TableName : ‘MY_TABLE’,
FilterExpression: "timestamp BETWEEN :startDate AND :endDate",
ExpressionAttributeValues: {
":startDate": ""+startDate,
":endDate": ""+endDate
}
}
Replace with:
params = {
TableName : ‘MY_TABLE’,
FilterExpression: "#dynobase_timestamp BETWEEN :startDate AND :endDate",
ExpressionAttributeValues: {
":startDate": startDate,
":endDate": endDate
},
ExpressionAttributeNames: { "#dynobase_timestamp": "timestamp" }
}
Other Common DynamoDB Errors (with Solutions)
- failed to list tables not authorized dynamodb
- DynamoDB query is slow
- dynamodb unknown error
- DynamoDB scan filter not working
- dynamodb throughput error
- DynamoDB Expression Not Null
- DynamoDB stream not working
- DynamoDB - The Security Token Included In The Request Is Invalid
- Conditional Update Error DynamoDB
- DynamoDB could not invoke null on class
- dynamodb ttl not deleting / erasing items
- DynamoDB scan does not return all items
- dynamodb cannot read properties of undefined
- DynamoDB Item Does Not Exist
- dynamodb query key condition not supported
Dynobase is a Professional GUI Client for DynamoDB
Start your 7-day free trial today
Product Features
DynamoDB Tools
DynamoDB Info
© 2026 Dynobase