Fix simple protocol empty array and original recursive empty array issue

Original issue https://github.com/jackc/pgtype/issues/68

This crash occurred in the recursive assignment system used to support
multidimensional arrays.

This was fixed in 9639a69d451f55456f598c1aa8b93053f8df3088. However,
that fix incorrectly used nil instead of an empty slice.

In hindsight, it appears the fundamental error is that an assignment to
a slice of a type that is not specified is handled with the recursive /
reflection path. Or another way of looking at it is as an unexpected
feature where []T can now be scanned if individual elements are
assignable to T even if []T is not specifically handled.

But this new reflection / recursive path did not handle empty arrays.

This fix handles the reflection path for an empty slice by allocating an
empty slice.

aclitem_array.go

@@ -190,10 +190,6 @@ func (dst ACLItemArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *ACLItemArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -232,6 +228,13 @@ func (src *ACLItemArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

aclitem_array_test.go

@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ func TestACLItemArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.ACLItemArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &stringSlice,
-			expected: (([]string)(nil)),
+			expected: []string{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.ACLItemArray{

bool_array.go

@@ -192,10 +192,6 @@ func (dst BoolArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *BoolArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -234,6 +230,13 @@ func (src *BoolArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

bool_array_test.go

@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func TestBoolArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.BoolArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &boolSlice,
-			expected: (([]bool)(nil)),
+			expected: []bool{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.BoolArray{

bpchar_array.go

@@ -192,10 +192,6 @@ func (dst BPCharArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *BPCharArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -234,6 +230,13 @@ func (src *BPCharArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

bytea_array.go

@@ -173,10 +173,6 @@ func (dst ByteaArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *ByteaArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -206,6 +202,13 @@ func (src *ByteaArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

bytea_array_test.go

@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ func TestByteaArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.ByteaArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &byteByteSlice,
-			expected: (([][]byte)(nil)),
+			expected: [][]byte{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.ByteaArray{

cidr_array.go

@@ -212,10 +212,6 @@ func (dst CIDRArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *CIDRArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -263,6 +259,13 @@ func (src *CIDRArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

cidr_array_test.go

@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ func TestCIDRArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.CIDRArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &ipnetSlice,
-			expected: (([]*net.IPNet)(nil)),
+			expected: []*net.IPNet{},
 		},
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.CIDRArray{Status: pgtype.Null},
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ func TestCIDRArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.CIDRArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &ipSlice,
-			expected: (([]net.IP)(nil)),
+			expected: []net.IP{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.CIDRArray{

date_array.go

@@ -193,10 +193,6 @@ func (dst DateArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *DateArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -235,6 +231,13 @@ func (src *DateArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

date_array_test.go

@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ func TestDateArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.DateArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &timeSlice,
-			expected: (([]time.Time)(nil)),
+			expected: []time.Time{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.DateArray{

enum_array.go

@@ -190,10 +190,6 @@ func (dst EnumArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *EnumArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -232,6 +228,13 @@ func (src *EnumArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

enum_array_test.go

@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ func TestEnumArrayArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.EnumArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &stringSlice,
-			expected: (([]string)(nil)),
+			expected: []string{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.EnumArray{

float4_array.go

@@ -192,10 +192,6 @@ func (dst Float4Array) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *Float4Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -234,6 +230,13 @@ func (src *Float4Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

float4_array_test.go

@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ func TestFloat4ArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.Float4Array{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &float32Slice,
-			expected: (([]float32)(nil)),
+			expected: []float32{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.Float4Array{

float8_array.go

@@ -192,10 +192,6 @@ func (dst Float8Array) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *Float8Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -234,6 +230,13 @@ func (src *Float8Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

float8_array_test.go

@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ func TestFloat8ArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.Float8Array{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &float64Slice,
-			expected: (([]float64)(nil)),
+			expected: []float64{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.Float8Array{

hstore_array.go

@@ -173,10 +173,6 @@ func (dst HstoreArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *HstoreArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -206,6 +202,13 @@ func (src *HstoreArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

hstore_array_test.go

@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ func TestHstoreArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 			src: pgtype.HstoreArray{Status: pgtype.Null}, dst: &hstoreSlice, expected: (([]map[string]string)(nil)),
 		},
 		{
-			src: pgtype.HstoreArray{Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &hstoreSlice, expected: (([]map[string]string)(nil)),
+			src: pgtype.HstoreArray{Status: pgtype.Present}, dst: &hstoreSlice, expected: []map[string]string{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.HstoreArray{

inet_array.go

@@ -212,10 +212,6 @@ func (dst InetArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *InetArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -263,6 +259,13 @@ func (src *InetArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

inet_array_test.go

@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ func TestInetArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.InetArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &ipnetSlice,
-			expected: (([]*net.IPNet)(nil)),
+			expected: []*net.IPNet{},
 		},
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.InetArray{Status: pgtype.Null},
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ func TestInetArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.InetArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &ipSlice,
-			expected: (([]net.IP)(nil)),
+			expected: []net.IP{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.InetArray{

int2_array.go

@@ -458,10 +458,6 @@ func (dst Int2Array) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *Int2Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -626,6 +622,13 @@ func (src *Int2Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

int2_array_test.go

@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ func TestInt2ArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.Int2Array{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &int16Slice,
-			expected: (([]int16)(nil)),
+			expected: []int16{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.Int2Array{

int4_array.go

@@ -458,10 +458,6 @@ func (dst Int4Array) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *Int4Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -626,6 +622,13 @@ func (src *Int4Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

int4_array_test.go

@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ func TestInt4ArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.Int4Array{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &int32Slice,
-			expected: (([]int32)(nil)),
+			expected: []int32{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.Int4Array{

int8_array.go

@@ -458,10 +458,6 @@ func (dst Int8Array) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *Int8Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -626,6 +622,13 @@ func (src *Int8Array) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

int8_array_test.go

@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ func TestInt8ArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.Int8Array{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &int64Slice,
-			expected: (([]int64)(nil)),
+			expected: []int64{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.Int8Array{

jsonb_array.go

@@ -192,10 +192,6 @@ func (dst JSONBArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *JSONBArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -234,6 +230,13 @@ func (src *JSONBArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

macaddr_array.go

@@ -193,10 +193,6 @@ func (dst MacaddrArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *MacaddrArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -235,6 +231,13 @@ func (src *MacaddrArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

macaddr_array_test.go

@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ func TestMacaddrArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.MacaddrArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &macaddrSlice,
-			expected: (([]net.HardwareAddr)(nil)),
+			expected: []net.HardwareAddr{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.MacaddrArray{

numeric_array.go

@@ -306,10 +306,6 @@ func (dst NumericArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *NumericArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -402,6 +398,13 @@ func (src *NumericArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

numeric_array_test.go

@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ func TestNumericArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.NumericArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &float32Slice,
-			expected: (([]float32)(nil)),
+			expected: []float32{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.NumericArray{

text_array.go

@@ -192,10 +192,6 @@ func (dst TextArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *TextArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -234,6 +230,13 @@ func (src *TextArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

text_array_test.go

@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func TestTextArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.TextArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &stringSlice,
-			expected: (([]string)(nil)),
+			expected: []string{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.TextArray{

timestamp_array.go

@@ -193,10 +193,6 @@ func (dst TimestampArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *TimestampArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -235,6 +231,13 @@ func (src *TimestampArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

timestamp_array_test.go

@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ func TestTimestampArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.TimestampArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &timeSlice,
-			expected: (([]time.Time)(nil)),
+			expected: []time.Time{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.TimestampArray{

timestamptz_array.go

@@ -193,10 +193,6 @@ func (dst TimestamptzArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *TimestamptzArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -235,6 +231,13 @@ func (src *TimestamptzArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

timestamptz_array_test.go

@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ func TestTimestamptzArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.TimestamptzArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &timeSlice,
-			expected: (([]time.Time)(nil)),
+			expected: []time.Time{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.TimestamptzArray{

tstzrange_array.go

@@ -154,10 +154,6 @@ func (dst TstzrangeArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *TstzrangeArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -187,6 +183,13 @@ func (src *TstzrangeArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

typed_array.go.erb

@@ -174,10 +174,6 @@ func (dst <%= pgtype_array_type %>) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *<%= pgtype_array_type %>) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1{
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -207,6 +203,13 @@ func (src *<%= pgtype_array_type %>) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

uuid_array.go

@@ -230,10 +230,6 @@ func (dst UUIDArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *UUIDArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -290,6 +286,13 @@ func (src *UUIDArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

uuid_array_test.go

@@ -256,12 +256,12 @@ func TestUUIDArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.UUIDArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &byteSlice,
-			expected: ([]byte)(nil),
+			expected: []byte{},
 		},
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.UUIDArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &stringSlice,
-			expected: (([]string)(nil)),
+			expected: []string{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.UUIDArray{

varchar_array.go

@@ -192,10 +192,6 @@ func (dst VarcharArray) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *VarcharArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch src.Status {
 	case Present:
-		if len(src.Elements) == 0 || len(src.Dimensions) == 0 {
-			// No values to assign
-			return nil
-		}
 		if len(src.Dimensions) <= 1 {
 			// Attempt to match to select common types:
 			switch v := dst.(type) {
@@ -234,6 +230,13 @@ func (src *VarcharArray) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 			value = value.Elem()
 		}
 
+		if len(src.Elements) == 0 {
+			if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
+				value.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), 0, 0))
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+
 		elementCount, err := src.assignToRecursive(value, 0, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

varchar_array_test.go

@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func TestVarcharArrayAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			src:      pgtype.VarcharArray{Status: pgtype.Present},
 			dst:      &stringSlice,
-			expected: (([]string)(nil)),
+			expected: []string{},
 		},
 		{
 			src: pgtype.VarcharArray{