# `zodSchema()`

`zodSchema` is a helper function that converts a Zod schema into a JSON schema object that is compatible with the AI SDK.
It takes a Zod schema and optional configuration as inputs, and returns a typed schema.

You can use it to [generate structured data](/docs/ai-sdk-core/generating-structured-data) and in [tools](/docs/ai-sdk-core/tools-and-tool-calling).

<Note>
  You can also pass Zod objects directly to the AI SDK functions. Internally,
  the AI SDK will convert the Zod schema to a JSON schema using `zodSchema()`.
  However, if you want to specify options such as `useReferences`, you can pass
  the `zodSchema()` helper function instead.
</Note>

<Note type="warning">
  When using `.meta()` or `.describe()` to add metadata to your Zod schemas,
  make sure these methods are called **at the end** of the schema chain.
  
  metadata is attached to a specific schema
  instance, and most schema methods (`.min()`, `.optional()`, `.extend()`, etc.)
  return a new schema instance that does not inherit metadata from the previous one.
  Due to Zod's immutability, metadata is only included in the JSON schema output
  if `.meta()` or `.describe()` is the last method in the chain.

```ts
// ❌ Metadata will be lost - .min() returns a new instance without metadata
z.string().meta({ describe: 'first name' }).min(1);

// ✅ Metadata is preserved - .meta() is the final method
z.string().min(1).meta({ describe: 'first name' });
```

</Note>

## Example with recursive schemas

```ts
import { zodSchema } from 'ai';
import { z } from 'zod';

// Define a base category schema
const baseCategorySchema = z.object({
  name: z.string(),
});

// Define the recursive Category type
type Category = z.infer<typeof baseCategorySchema> & {
  subcategories: Category[];
};

// Create the recursive schema using z.lazy
const categorySchema: z.ZodType<Category> = baseCategorySchema.extend({
  subcategories: z.lazy(() => categorySchema.array()),
});

// Create the final schema with useReferences enabled for recursive support
const mySchema = zodSchema(
  z.object({
    category: categorySchema,
  }),
  { useReferences: true },
);
```

## Import

<Snippet text={`import { zodSchema } from "ai"`} prompt={false} />

## API Signature

### Parameters

<PropertiesTable
  content={[
    {
      name: 'zodSchema',
      type: 'z.Schema',
      description: 'The Zod schema definition.',
    },
    {
      name: 'options',
      type: 'object',
      description: 'Additional options for the schema conversion.',
      properties: [
        {
          type: 'object',
          parameters: [
            {
              name: 'useReferences',
              isOptional: true,
              type: 'boolean',
              description:
                'Enables support for references in the schema. This is required for recursive schemas, e.g. with `z.lazy`. However, not all language models and providers support such references. Defaults to `false`.',
            },
          ],
        },
      ],
    },
  ]}
/>

### Returns

A Schema object that is compatible with the AI SDK, containing both the JSON schema representation and validation functionality.


## Navigation

- [generateText](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/generate-text)
- [streamText](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/stream-text)
- [embed](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/embed)
- [embedMany](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/embed-many)
- [rerank](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/rerank)
- [generateImage](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/generate-image)
- [transcribe](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/transcribe)
- [generateSpeech](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/generate-speech)
- [experimental_generateVideo](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/generate-video)
- [Agent (Interface)](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/agent)
- [ToolLoopAgent](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/tool-loop-agent)
- [createAgentUIStream](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/create-agent-ui-stream)
- [createAgentUIStreamResponse](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/create-agent-ui-stream-response)
- [pipeAgentUIStreamToResponse](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/pipe-agent-ui-stream-to-response)
- [tool](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/tool)
- [dynamicTool](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/dynamic-tool)
- [createMCPClient](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/create-mcp-client)
- [Experimental_StdioMCPTransport](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/mcp-stdio-transport)
- [jsonSchema](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/json-schema)
- [zodSchema](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/zod-schema)
- [valibotSchema](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/valibot-schema)
- [Output](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/output)
- [ModelMessage](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/model-message)
- [UIMessage](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/ui-message)
- [validateUIMessages](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/validate-ui-messages)
- [safeValidateUIMessages](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/safe-validate-ui-messages)
- [createProviderRegistry](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/provider-registry)
- [customProvider](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/custom-provider)
- [cosineSimilarity](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/cosine-similarity)
- [wrapLanguageModel](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/wrap-language-model)
- [wrapImageModel](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/wrap-image-model)
- [LanguageModelV3Middleware](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/language-model-v2-middleware)
- [extractReasoningMiddleware](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/extract-reasoning-middleware)
- [simulateStreamingMiddleware](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/simulate-streaming-middleware)
- [defaultSettingsMiddleware](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/default-settings-middleware)
- [addToolInputExamplesMiddleware](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/add-tool-input-examples-middleware)
- [extractJsonMiddleware](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/extract-json-middleware)
- [stepCountIs](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/step-count-is)
- [hasToolCall](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/has-tool-call)
- [isLoopFinished](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/loop-finished)
- [simulateReadableStream](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/simulate-readable-stream)
- [smoothStream](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/smooth-stream)
- [generateId](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/generate-id)
- [createIdGenerator](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/create-id-generator)
- [DefaultGeneratedFile](/docs/reference/ai-sdk-core/default-generated-file)


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