apache/flink · error · java.lang.IllegalArgumentException

Could not find reference: {}

Error message

Could not find reference: {}

What it means

Error "Could not find reference: {}" thrown in apache/flink.

Source

Thrown at flink-formats/flink-json/src/main/java/org/apache/flink/formats/json/JsonRowSchemaConverter.java:360

                // we fail hard here:
                // this gives us the chance to support more encodings in the future without problems
                // of backwards compatibility
                throw new IllegalArgumentException(
                        "Invalid encoding '" + node.asText() + "' in node: " + location);
        }
    }

    private static JsonNode resolveReference(String ref, JsonNode origin, JsonNode root) {
        if (!ref.startsWith("#")) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
                    "Only JSON schemes with simple references "
                            + "(one indirection in the same document) are supported yet. But was: "
                            + ref);
        }
        final String path = ref.substring(1);
        final JsonNode foundNode = root.at(path);
        if (foundNode.isMissingNode()) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Could not find reference: " + ref);
        }
        // prevent obvious cyclic references
        if (foundNode == origin) {
            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Cyclic references are not supported:" + ref);
        }
        return foundNode;
    }

    private static TypeInformation<?>[] convertTypes(
            String location, JsonNode arrayNode, JsonNode root) {
        final TypeInformation<?>[] types = new TypeInformation[arrayNode.size()];
        final Iterator<JsonNode> elements = arrayNode.elements();
        int i = 0;
        while (elements.hasNext()) {
            final TypeInformation<?> elementType =
                    convertType(location + '[' + i + ']', elements.next(), root);
            types[i] = elementType;
            i += 1;

View on GitHub (pinned to 2f3c205e92)

Solutions

1. Address the cause reported by the error message: Could not find reference: the reported value
2. Verify the inputs, configuration values, and classpath/dependency setup related to this operation, then retry.

Example fix

Correct the condition described ("Could not find reference: the reported value") and rerun the job or command.

When it happens

Trigger: Triggered at runtime when the operation fails because: Could not find reference: the reported value.

Common situations: Commonly caused by misconfiguration, missing dependencies or files, unsupported types or operations, or invalid user input leading to: Could not find reference: the reported value.

AI-assisted analysis of apache/flink@2f3c205e92 (2026-08-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/b11ca2b634b09499. Report an issue: GitHub.