Schema reference does not exist (OpenAPI 2.0)

A reference points to a model missing from definitions

Description

A model referenced through #/definitions/... must exist in definitions. If it is absent or named differently, the request or response body structure cannot be resolved.

Potential impact

Validation or model generation may fail, leaving client type information incomplete.

Remediation

Correct the schema reference to the exact model name or add the needed definition. Update all references when renaming a model.

Examples

These POST examples correct the response schema reference from Use to the actual model name, User.

Before

json
{
  "swagger": "2.0",
  "info": {
    "title": "Simple API Overview",
    "version": "1.0.0"
  },
  "paths": {
    "/": {
      "post": {
        "operationId": "listVersionsv2",
        "summary": "List API versions",
        "responses": {
          "200": {
            "schema": {
              "$ref": "#/definitions/Use"
            },
            "description": "A user"
          }
        },
        "parameters": [
          {
            "$ref": "#/parameters/limitParam"
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "parameters": {
    "limitParam": {
      "name": "limit",
      "in": "body",
      "description": "max records to return",
      "required": true,
      "schema": {
        "type": "integer"
      }
    }
  },
  "definitions": {
    "User": {
      "type": "object",
      "required": [
        "id",
        "name"
      ],
      "properties": {
        "id": {
          "type": "integer",
          "format": "int64"
        },
        "name": {
          "type": "string"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

After

json
{
  "swagger": "2.0",
  "info": {
    "title": "Simple API Overview",
    "version": "1.0.0"
  },
  "paths": {
    "/": {
      "post": {
        "operationId": "listVersionsv2",
        "summary": "List API versions",
        "responses": {
          "200": {
            "schema": {
              "$ref": "#/definitions/User"
            },
            "description": "A user"
          }
        },
        "parameters": [
          {
            "$ref": "#/parameters/limitParam"
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "parameters": {
    "limitParam": {
      "name": "limit",
      "in": "body",
      "description": "max records to return",
      "required": true,
      "schema": {
        "type": "integer"
      }
    }
  },
  "definitions": {
    "User": {
      "type": "object",
      "required": [
        "id",
        "name"
      ],
      "properties": {
        "id": {
          "type": "integer",
          "format": "int64"
        },
        "name": {
          "type": "string"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

References