Java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/exc/InvalidDefinitionException

Resolving NoClassDefFoundError with InvalidDefinitionException in Jackson Databind

If you encounter the error java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: com/fasterxml/jackson/databind/exc/InvalidDefinitionException, it’s often due to an incompatible or missing version of the Jackson Databind library. This issue can typically be resolved by upgrading to a newer version of the library. In this post, we will walk through the steps to fix this error by updating the Jackson Databind dependency in your Maven project.

Understanding the Error

The NoClassDefFoundError indicates that the JVM is unable to find a class that is required at runtime. Specifically, the InvalidDefinitionException class is part of the Jackson Databind library, and this error occurs when the library version in your project does not include this class.

Solution: Upgrade Jackson Databind

To resolve this error, you need to upgrade the Jackson Databind dependency to a version that includes the InvalidDefinitionException class. As of this writing, upgrading to version 2.9.4 of Jackson Databind has proven to resolve this issue.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open Your pom.xml File: Locate the pom.xml file in your Maven project. This file is used to manage your project’s dependencies.
2. Update the Jackson Databind Dependency: Add or update the Jackson Databind dependency to version 2.9.4. Your pom.xml should include the following dependency configuration:

   <!-- https://mvnrepository.com/artifact/com.fasterxml.jackson.core/jackson-databind -->
   <dependency>
       <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson.core</groupId>
       <artifactId>jackson-databind</artifactId>
       <version>2.9.4</version>
   </dependency>

3. Save and Refresh Dependencies: Save the pom.xml file and refresh your Maven project. This will download the specified version of Jackson Databind and include it in your project’s build path.
4. Rebuild and Test: Rebuild your project and run your tests to ensure that the NoClassDefFoundError has been resolved.

Example pom.xml Snippet

Here is an example snippet of the pom.xml file with the updated Jackson Databind dependency:

<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"
         xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
         xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>

    <groupId>com.example</groupId>
    <artifactId>my-app</artifactId>
    <version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>

    <dependencies>
        <!-- Other dependencies -->

        <!-- Jackson Databind Dependency -->
        <dependency>
            <groupId>com.fasterxml.jackson.core</groupId>
            <artifactId>jackson-databind</artifactId>
            <version>2.9.4</version>
        </dependency>
    </dependencies>
</project>

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the NoClassDefFoundError related to the InvalidDefinitionException in the Jackson Databind library. Upgrading to version 2.9.4 ensures that your project includes the necessary classes and avoids runtime errors.

Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or need further assistance!