chroma-core/chroma · error · ValueError

embedding_function must be callable or None

Error message

embedding_function must be callable or None

What it means

Error "embedding_function must be callable or None" thrown in chroma-core/chroma.

Source

Thrown at chromadb/api/types.py:1733

        if v.startswith("#") and v != "#document":
            raise ValueError(
                "source_key cannot begin with '#'. "
                "The only valid key starting with '#' is Key.DOCUMENT or '#document'."
            )

        return v  # type: ignore[no-any-return]

    @field_validator("embedding_function", mode="before")
    @classmethod
    def validate_embedding_function_field(cls, v: Any) -> Any:
        # Use the existing validate_embedding_function for proper validation
        if v is None:
            return v
        if callable(v):
            # Use the existing validation function
            validate_embedding_function(v)
            return v
        raise ValueError("embedding_function must be callable or None")


class SparseVectorIndexConfig(BaseModel):
    """Configuration for sparse vector index."""

    model_config = {"arbitrary_types_allowed": True}

    _validate_extra_fields = _create_extra_fields_validator(
        [
            "embedding_function",
            "source_key",
            "bm25",
            "algorithm",
        ]
    )

    # TODO(Sanket): Change this to the appropriate sparse ef and use a default here.
    embedding_function: Optional[Any] = None

View on GitHub (pinned to aecdd12c8a)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at chromadb/api/types.py:1733 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of chroma-core/chroma@aecdd12c8a (2026-08-16). Data as JSON: /api/errors/325566e63fb834e7. Report an issue: GitHub.