Resolving the parameter cannot be converted to a numeric value Error in Lambda and DynamoDB

Encounter a `parameter cannot be converted to a numeric value` error when using Lambda with DynamoDB? Discover the root cause and step-by-step fix to ensure data is correctly saved.
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Understanding the parameter cannot be converted to a numeric value Error in AWS Lambda and DynamoDB

If you work with AWS Lambda and DynamoDB, you might encounter various errors that can be perplexing, particularly when it comes to data type compatibility. One common error message that may leave you scratching your head is:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This usually occurs when trying to save data from your Lambda function to DynamoDB—specifically, when the data being sent doesn’t match the expected data type in your DynamoDB table. In this post, we will explore this error in detail and provide a straightforward solution.

The Scenario

Imagine you have set up a Lambda function that retrieves user profile data from an API Gateway request and saves that data to a DynamoDB table. Below is a simplified snippet of the Lambda function to illustrate where the problem might arise:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

You can see that we want to store the profileId from the profileArray as a numeric value in the DynamoDB table. However, when trying to save this data, an error arises:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

So why does this happen?

Identifying the Root Cause

The issue arises because, in your params definition, you are still referencing profileId as a string due to the quotes around it:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The Solution

To resolve this error, you need to remove the quotes around the profileId when defining your params. This adjustment will allow the function to interpret the value as a number. Here’s how the corrected snippet should look:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Recap & Final Thoughts

Problem: You cannot convert the reference to a numeric value because it was treated as a string due to quotes.

With this correct reference, your Lambda function should successfully save the data into DynamoDB without any issues related to numeric value conversion.

If you ever find yourself in a similar situation regarding data types in AWS services, remember to double-check how values are being referenced in your code. Misinterpretation of data types often leads to these frustrating errors, but with the right adjustments, they can be resolved swiftly.

Happy coding!