hibernate/hibernate-orm · error · IllegalArgumentException

TypeDefinition to register cannot be null

Error message

TypeDefinition to register cannot be null

What it means

Error "TypeDefinition to register cannot be null" thrown in hibernate/hibernate-orm.

Source

Thrown at hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/boot/internal/TypeDefinitionRegistryStandardImpl.java:68

	@Override
	public TypeDefinition resolveAutoApplied(BasicJavaType<?> basicJavaType) {
		// For now, check the definition map for an entry keyed by the JTD name.
		// Ultimately should maybe have TypeDefinition or the registry keep explicit
		// track of auto-applied definitions.
		return basicJavaType.getJavaType() == null ? null
				: typeDefinitionMap.get( basicJavaType.getTypeName() );
	}

	@Override
	public TypeDefinitionRegistry register(TypeDefinition typeDefinition) {
		return register( typeDefinition, DuplicationStrategy.OVERWRITE );
	}

	@Override
	public TypeDefinitionRegistry register(TypeDefinition typeDefinition, DuplicationStrategy duplicationStrategy) {
		if ( typeDefinition == null ) {
			throw new IllegalArgumentException( "TypeDefinition to register cannot be null" );
		}

		if ( typeDefinition.getTypeImplementorClass() == null ) {
			throw new IllegalArgumentException( "TypeDefinition to register cannot define null #typeImplementorClass" );
		}

		final String typeDefinitionName = typeDefinition.getName();
		if ( !isEmpty( typeDefinitionName ) ) {
			register( typeDefinitionName, typeDefinition, duplicationStrategy );
		}

		final String[] registrationKeys = typeDefinition.getRegistrationKeys();
		if ( registrationKeys != null ) {
			for ( String registrationKey : registrationKeys ) {
				register( registrationKey, typeDefinition, duplicationStrategy );
			}
		}

View on GitHub (pinned to fad1729dce)

Solutions

1. Pass a non-null TypeDefinition to the registry; check the registration call site for a variable that can be null.
2. Guard registration code with a null check and fail fast at the source producing the null definition.
3. Review any conditional code paths that skip TypeDefinition creation.

When it happens

Trigger: An invalid TypeDefinition is registered or overwritten in the type registry.

Common situations: Registering a null TypeDefinition, one without a type implementor class, or re-registering an existing name without overwrite permission.

AI-assisted analysis of hibernate/hibernate-orm@fad1729dce (2026-08-22). Data as JSON: /api/errors/e5132c2e3f69e753. Report an issue: GitHub.