keras-team/keras · error · ValueError

A KerasTensor is symbolic: it's a placeholder for a shape an

Error message

A KerasTensor is symbolic: it's a placeholder for a shape an a dtype. It doesn't have any actual numerical value. You cannot convert it to a NumPy array.

What it means

Error "A KerasTensor is symbolic: it's a placeholder for a shape an a dtype. It doesn't have any actual numerical value. You cannot convert it to a NumPy array." thrown in keras-team/keras.

Source

Thrown at keras/src/backend/common/keras_tensor.py:164

        return ops.Squeeze(axis)(self)

    def __int__(self):
        raise ValueError(
            "A KerasTensor is symbolic: it's a placeholder for a shape "
            "an a dtype. It doesn't have any actual numerical value. "
            "You cannot convert it to an int."
        )

    def __float__(self):
        raise ValueError(
            "A KerasTensor is symbolic: it's a placeholder for a shape "
            "an a dtype. It doesn't have any actual numerical value. "
            "You cannot convert it to a float."
        )

    def __array__(self):
        raise ValueError(
            "A KerasTensor is symbolic: it's a placeholder for a shape "
            "an a dtype. It doesn't have any actual numerical value. "
            "You cannot convert it to a NumPy array."
        )

    def __jax_array__(self):
        raise ValueError(
            "A KerasTensor cannot be used as input to a JAX function. "
            "A KerasTensor is a symbolic placeholder for a shape and dtype, "
            "used when constructing Keras Functional models "
            "or Keras Functions. You can only use it as input to a Keras layer "
            "or a Keras operation (from the namespaces `keras.layers` "
            "and `keras.ops`). "
            "You are likely doing something like:\n\n"
            "```\n"
            "x = Input(...)\n"
            "...\n"
            "jax_fn(x)  # Invalid.\n"

View on GitHub (pinned to 7a34a03db6)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at keras/src/backend/common/keras_tensor.py:164 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/433fada3dcd871f9. Report an issue: GitHub.