GCP
INVALID_REQUEST - Invalid Request: Malformed Request Format
INVALID_REQUEST means your request format is broken—malformed JSON, unclosed brackets, missing required fields, or parameters in wrong formats. This client-side error happens during request parsing in the control plane before GCP validates parameter values. Most common in Compute Engine with malformed API requests, but also appears in Cloud SQL with invalid database configuration structures, GKE with malformed cluster configs, and BigQuery with invalid query syntax. Unlike INVALID_ARGUMENT (which indicates wrong parameter values), INVALID_REQUEST means the request structure itself is invalid—GCP can't parse it.
#Common Causes
- →Malformed Request Structure: The request JSON or structure is invalid (e.g., unclosed brackets, invalid syntax, wrong format). GCP can't parse the request. This is persistent—you must fix the request format.
- →Missing Required Parameters: Required parameters are not included in the request. API operations require specific parameters to be present. This is persistent—you must include all required parameters.
- →Invalid Parameter Format: Parameters don't match the expected format (e.g., date format, GUID format, structure mismatch). GCP validates parameter formats strictly. This is persistent—you must use the correct format.
- →Service-Specific Format Requirements: Request format requirements vary by service. Some services have stricter format requirements than others.
✓Solutions
- 1Step 1: Diagnose - Check request JSON syntax by validating JSON syntax and structure. Use a JSON validator to identify syntax errors.
- 2Step 2: Diagnose - Review API documentation for required parameters. Ensure all required parameters are included in your request.
- 3Step 3: Diagnose - Review API documentation for parameter format requirements (e.g., date formats, GUID formats, structure requirements).
- 4Step 4: Diagnose - Validate request structure by reviewing API documentation for request structure requirements.
- 5Step 5: Fix - Fix request format by checking JSON syntax, structure, and format. Ensure all brackets are closed and syntax is valid.
- 6Step 6: Fix - Include all required parameters. Check API documentation for required parameters and ensure they're all present.
- 7Step 7: Fix - Use correct parameter formats. Check API documentation for parameter format requirements and ensure your parameters match.
- 8Step 8: Verify - Retry the operation with the corrected request format. If it succeeds, the format issue was resolved.
</>Code Examples
Request Validation Before API Call
1# This script validates request parameters before making API calls to avoid INVALID_REQUEST errors
2
3PROJECT_ID="my-project"
4ZONE="us-central1-a"
5INSTANCE_NAME="my-instance"
6MACHINE_TYPE="n1-standard-1"
7
8# Step 1: Validate project ID
9echo "Validating project ID: $PROJECT_ID"
10if ! gcloud projects describe $PROJECT_ID &>/dev/null; then
11 echo "ERROR: Invalid project ID: $PROJECT_ID"
12 echo "Available projects:"
13 gcloud projects list --format="table(projectId,name)"
14 exit 1
15fi
16echo "Project ID is valid"
17
18# Step 2: Validate zone
19echo "Validating zone: $ZONE"
20if ! gcloud compute zones list --filter="name=$ZONE" --format="value(name)" | grep -q "$ZONE"; then
21 echo "ERROR: Invalid zone: $ZONE"
22 echo "Available zones:"
23 gcloud compute zones list --format="table(name,status)"
24 exit 1
25fi
26echo "Zone is valid"
27
28# Step 3: Validate machine type exists in the zone
29echo "Validating machine type: $MACHINE_TYPE"
30if ! gcloud compute machine-types list --filter="name=$MACHINE_TYPE AND zone:$ZONE" --format="value(name)" | grep -q "$MACHINE_TYPE"; then
31 echo "ERROR: Invalid machine type: $MACHINE_TYPE for zone $ZONE"
32 echo "Available machine types in $ZONE:"
33 gcloud compute machine-types list --filter="zone:$ZONE" --format="table(name)"
34 exit 1
35fi
36echo "Machine type is valid"
37
38# Step 4: Validate instance name format (alphanumeric and hyphens only)
39if ! echo "$INSTANCE_NAME" | grep -qE '^[a-z]([-a-z0-9]*[a-z0-9])?$'; then
40 echo "ERROR: Invalid instance name format: $INSTANCE_NAME"
41 echo "Instance name must:"
42 echo " - Start with a lowercase letter"
43 echo " - Contain only lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens"
44 echo " - End with a letter or number"
45 exit 1
46fi
47echo "Instance name format is valid"
48
49# Step 5: Make request with validated parameters
50echo "All parameters validated. Creating instance..."
51gcloud compute instances create $INSTANCE_NAME \
52 --project $PROJECT_ID \
53 --zone $ZONE \
54 --machine-type $MACHINE_TYPE
55
56echo "Instance creation request sent successfully"↗Related Errors
Provider Information
This error code is specific to GCP services. For more information, refer to the official GCP documentation.