Help:Cite errors/Cite error references missing key

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For basic information on the footnote system, see Referencing for beginners

This page documents an error message for the Footnotes system.

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Cite error: `<ref>` tag with name `"$1"` defined in `<references>` is not used in prior text; see the help page.
Category	Pages with incorrect ref formatting
System message page	Cite error references missing key Note: this box will always show the "en — English" version of the message

Overview

Further information: Wikipedia:Manual of Style (footnotes)

A footnote used multiple times may be defined with a name:

<ref name="foo">content</ref>

To invoke a named footnote:

<ref name="foo" />

References may also be defined within the reference list:

{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=rename1>refcontent1</ref>
<ref name=rename2>refcontent2</ref>
<ref name=rename3>refcontent3</ref>
<ref name=rename4>refcontent4</ref>
}}

List-defined references may be invoked by the standard markup or by use of {{r}}.

Issues and resolution

All references defined in the reference list must be invoked in the content. Unused references must be removed or commented out.

Bugs

Tracked in Bugzilla
Bug 22635

Tracked in Bugzilla
Bug 24600

bug 22635 Multiple problems with refs inside <references>...</references> blocks.

bug 24600 The first defined reference that is not invoked will show an incorrect error message.

Examples

There are three references defined in the list, but none are invoked in the content. Note the spurious error for the first reference named ipsum:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=ipsum>Reference1</ref>
<ref name=minim>Reference2</ref>
<ref name=dolor>Reference3</ref>
}}

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.

References

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "dolor" defined in <references> is not used in prior text; see the help page.
Cite error: <ref> tag with name "minim" defined in <references> is not used in prior text; see the help page.

Cite error: <ref> tag defined in <references> has group attribute "" which does not appear in prior text; see the help page.

If only one reference is defined but not invoked, then only the spurious error is shown:

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=ipsum>Reference1</ref>
}}