---
type: concept
x-llmwiki:
  schemaVersion: "0.1"
  contentHash: 7b0206deb82ecf636e72725c8dc690fb67c60a3ffd536d7b76015199b54363ee
  pageDirectory: concepts
  sources:
    - delta_cannot_write_empty_schema-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md
  confidence: 1
  provenanceState: extracted
  freshnessStatus: unverified
  aliases:
    - struct_no_fields
    - STRUCT_NO_FIELDS
    - struct_no_fields-error-condition
    - SEC
    - STRUCT_NO_FIELDS error condition
  citations:
    - file: delta_cannot_write_empty_schema-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md
title: STRUCT_NO_FIELDS
description: A sub-reason for DELTA_CANNOT_WRITE_EMPTY_SCHEMA where a struct column has no fields defined.
tags:
  - delta-lake
  - error-messages
  - schema
timestamp: "2026-06-19T18:22:20.268Z"
---

# STRUCT_NO_FIELDS

**STRUCT_NO_FIELDS** is a sub-reason of the DELTA_CANNOT_WRITE_EMPTY_SCHEMA error condition. It occurs when a Delta table has a column of struct type with zero fields defined. ^[delta_cannot_write_empty_schema-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

## Error Message

When this error is raised, the following message is returned:

```
The column <columnPath> is a struct with no fields.
```

The `columnPath` placeholder is replaced with the actual name or nested path of the struct column that caused the failure. ^[delta_cannot_write_empty_schema-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

## Cause

The write operation fails because the Delta table schema contains a column defined as a `struct` type that has zero fields. In Delta Lake, a struct column must contain at least one field to be valid in a table schema. ^[delta_cannot_write_empty_schema-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

## Context

This error is part of the `DELTA_CANNOT_WRITE_EMPTY_SCHEMA` error class (SQLSTATE: 428GU), which includes four related conditions that all indicate a table cannot be written because parts of the schema are empty or unsupported: ^[delta_cannot_write_empty_schema-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

- **STRUCT_NO_FIELDS** – A struct has zero fields.
- STRUCT_ALL_VOID_FIELDS – A struct where all fields have `VOID` type.
- TABLE_ALL_VOID_COLUMNS – All table columns have `VOID` type.
- TABLE_NO_COLUMNS – The table schema has no columns defined.

## Resolution

To resolve this error, modify the schema of the problematic struct column so that it contains at least one non-void field. This may involve:

- Redefining the struct to include a required field.
- Removing the empty struct from the schema if it was introduced accidentally.
- Reviewing the source of the schema (such as a DataFrame definition, schema evolution logic, or a Delta Live Tables pipeline) to ensure all struct columns have at least one field.

After the schema is corrected, the write operation can proceed. ^[delta_cannot_write_empty_schema-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md]

## Related Concepts

- [Delta tables](/concepts/delta-lake-table.md)
- Struct type
- Schema evolution
- Delta Live Tables
- DataFrame schema

## Sources

- delta_cannot_write_empty_schema-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md

# Citations

1. [delta_cannot_write_empty_schema-error-condition-databricks-on-aws.md](/references/delta_cannot_write_empty_schema-error-condition-databricks-on-aws-78122c55.md)
