Why does DELETE not work after an UPDATE in a CTE?

CREATE table test (
    id integer,
    x integer
);

INSERT INTO test VALUES (1, 1);

SELECT works:

WITH res AS (
    UPDATE test SET x = 10 WHERE id = 1
    RETURNING id
)
SELECT id FROM test WHERE id IN (SELECT id FROM res);

id 
---
 1
(1 row)

But DELETE does not work:

WITH res AS (
    UPDATE test SET x = 10 WHERE id = 1
    RETURNING id
)
DELETE FROM test WHERE id IN (SELECT id FROM res);

DELETE 0

Common table expressions (CTE) of the same statement are all based on the same snapshot of the database. I.e. all sub-statements see the same state of underlying tables.

Your DELETE tries to modify the same row(s) that your UPDATE already modifies.
The manual addresses your case exactly:


Trying to update the same row twice in a single statement is not
supported. Only one of the modifications takes place, but it is not
easy (and sometimes not possible) to reliably predict which one. This
also applies to deleting a row that was already updated in the same
statement: only the update is performed. Therefore you should
generally avoid trying to modify a single row twice in a single
statement. In particular avoid writing WITH sub-statements that could
affect the same rows changed by the main statement or a sibling
sub-statement. The effects of such a statement will not be
predictable.

Bold emphasis mine.

StackExchange Database Administrators Q#244975, answer score: 4