What causes "cms::lang.asset.name_cant_be_empty" in octobercms/october?

Mark the rename input required and validate non-empty before posting

octobercms/october · error · ApplicationException

cms::lang.asset.name_cant_be_empty

Error message

cms::lang.asset.name_cant_be_empty

What it means

MediaManager::onApplyName() renames a library item and first requires a non-empty name: trim(Input::get('name')) must have length. An absent, empty, or whitespace-only name throws cms::lang.asset.name_cant_be_empty before any validation or move happens. The stock rename popup enforces this client-side, so hitting it server-side means a custom client or a scripted request.

Source

Thrown at modules/media/widgets/MediaManager.php:411

        $this->vars['listId'] = Input::get('listId');
        $this->vars['type'] = Input::get('type');

        return $this->makePartial('rename-form');
    }

    /**
     * onApplyName renames an item
     * @return array
     */
    public function onApplyName()
    {
        if (!$this->checkHasPermission('mediaDelete')) {
            throw new ForbiddenException;
        }

        $newName = trim(Input::get('name'));
        if (!strlen($newName)) {
            throw new ApplicationException(Lang::get('cms::lang.asset.name_cant_be_empty'));
        }

        if (!$this->validateFileName($newName)) {
            throw new ApplicationException(Lang::get('cms::lang.asset.invalid_name'));
        }

        $originalPath = Input::get('originalPath');
        $originalPath = MediaLibrary::validatePath($originalPath);
        $newPath = dirname($originalPath).'/'.$newName;
        $type = Input::get('type');

        if ($type === MediaLibraryItem::TYPE_FILE) {
            // Validate extension
            if (!$this->validateFileType($newName)) {
                throw new ApplicationException(Lang::get('backend::lang.media.type_blocked'));
            }

            if (Config::get('media.clean_vectors', true) && $this->isVector($newName)) {

View on GitHub (pinned to b608633a7e)

Solutions

Mark the rename input required and validate non-empty before posting
Send a trimmed, non-empty name in the request alongside originalPath and type
For scripted renames, guard with if (!strlen(trim($name))) before calling the handler

Example fix

<!-- before -->
<input type="text" name="name" id="rename-name" />

<!-- after -->
<input type="text" name="name" id="rename-name" required="required" />

// JS: block empty submits
if (!form.name.value.trim()) { alert('Name cannot be empty'); return false; }

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

const name = (input.value || '').trim();
if (!name) { alert('Name cannot be empty'); return false; }

Prevention

Mark rename inputs required and trim before submit
Disable the apply button while the name field is blank
In scripted renames, skip or default empty names before calling onApplyName

When it happens

Trigger: Submitting the rename popup with an empty input (enter key on a blank field in a customized form); a scripted request omitting the name field; a value of only spaces or non-breaking spaces that trim reduces to ''.

Common situations: Custom rename UIs missing the required attribute; browser autofill quirks clearing the field; API integrations that send originalPath/type but forget name.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of octobercms/october@b608633a7e (2026-08-21). Data as JSON: /api/errors/1755b66066e40805. Report an issue: GitHub.