Matrix vector does not contain any values CI/CD Origin: Build & delivery Last updated 25 Oct 2026

GitHub Actions: Matrix vector 'node' does not contain any values / Error when evaluating 'strategy' for job

The job's strategy.matrix ended up empty — a fromJSON() expression produced no values, or a dimension is an empty list.

Exact message you may see Matrix vector does not contain any valuesError when evaluating 'strategy' for jobMatrix vector 'node' does not contain any valuesUnexpected value '' fromJSONError parsing fromJSON
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Seen on: GitHub Actions

Meaning

Dynamic matrices built from another job's output fail when that output is empty, malformed, or the producing job was skipped. A static dimension with no items fails the same way. Validate the JSON, skip the matrix job with an if: when the list is empty, and print the output for debugging.

Common causes

  • fromJSON(needs.setup.outputs.matrix) with an empty or missing output
  • Producer job skipped or failed so no output exists
  • Invalid JSON (single quotes, trailing comma)
  • Empty array for a matrix dimension
  • Wrong output name between jobs

⚡ Quick fix

  1. Echo the producing job's output and validate with jq
  2. Guard the matrix job: if: needs.setup.outputs.matrix != '[]'
  3. Use include with explicit entries for small matrices

Detailed fix by platform

GitHub Actions

  1. outputs: matrix: ${{ steps.set.outputs.matrix }} and in the step echo "matrix=$(jq -c . files.json)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"

Code examples

Guarded dynamic matrix

yaml
jobs:
  setup:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    outputs: { matrix: ${{ steps.m.outputs.matrix }} }
    steps:
      - id: m
        run: echo 'matrix={"node":["18","20"]}' >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
  test:
    needs: setup
    if: ${{ needs.setup.outputs.matrix != '' }}
    strategy:
      matrix: ${{ fromJSON(needs.setup.outputs.matrix) }}
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - run: echo node ${{ matrix.node }}

How to diagnose

  1. Output — What does the setup job output?
  2. JSON — Valid and non-empty?
  3. Needs — Is the producer job run?

🔧 Still not fixed?

Many errors look alike. If the steps above didn’t solve it, one of these is probably what you’re facing:

Where this error sits

Origin: Build & delivery. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):

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