keras-team/keras · error · ValueError

A `Dot` layer should be called on exactly 2 inputs. Received

Error message

A `Dot` layer should be called on exactly 2 inputs. Received: inputs={inputs}

What it means

Error "A `Dot` layer should be called on exactly 2 inputs. Received: inputs={inputs}" thrown in keras-team/keras.

Source

Thrown at keras/src/layers/merging/dot.py:296

            return
        if isinstance(self.axes, int):
            if self.axes < 0:
                axes = [self.axes % len(shape1), self.axes % len(shape2)]
            else:
                axes = [self.axes] * 2
        else:
            axes = self.axes
        if shape1[axes[0]] != shape2[axes[1]]:
            raise ValueError(
                f"Incompatible input shapes: "
                f"axis values {shape1[axes[0]]} (at axis {axes[0]}) != "
                f"{shape2[axes[1]]} (at axis {axes[1]}). "
                f"Full input shapes: {shape1}, {shape2}"
            )

    def _merge_function(self, inputs):
        if len(inputs) != 2:
            raise ValueError(
                f"A `Dot` layer should be called on exactly 2 inputs. "
                f"Received: inputs={inputs}"
            )
        x1 = inputs[0]
        x2 = inputs[1]

        if isinstance(self.axes, int):
            if self.axes < 0:
                axes = [
                    self.axes % len(x1.shape),
                    self.axes % len(x2.shape),
                ]
            else:
                axes = [self.axes] * 2
        else:
            axes = []
            for i in range(len(self.axes)):
                if self.axes[i] < 0:

View on GitHub (pinned to 7a34a03db6)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at keras/src/layers/merging/dot.py:296 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of keras-team/keras@7a34a03db6 (2026-08-25). Data as JSON: /api/errors/380799de62f0dda5. Report an issue: GitHub.