# Apify Dataset Schema Validation
This document validates the dataset schema against Apify's official specification.
## Apify Dataset Schema Specification
According to [Apify's Dataset Schema Documentation](https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/development/actor-definition/dataset-schema):
### Required Top-Level Fields
- ✅ `actorDatasetSchemaVersion` (integer, required) - Must be `1`
- ✅ `fields` (JSONSchema compatible object, required) - Schema of one dataset object
- ✅ `views` (DatasetView object, required) - Description of API and UI views
### DatasetView Object Requirements
Each view must have:
- ✅ `title` (string, required) - Visible in UI Output tab and API
- ✅ `transformation` (ViewTransformation object, required) - Data transformation definition
- ✅ `display` (ViewDisplay object, required) - Output tab UI visualization
### ViewTransformation Requirements
- ✅ `fields` (string[], required) - Fields to be presented in output
### ViewDisplay Requirements
- ✅ `component` (string, required) - Must be `"table"` (only available component)
- ✅ `properties` (Object, optional) - Display properties for fields
## Current Schema Validation
### Top-Level Structure
```json
{
"actorDatasetSchemaVersion": 1, ✅ Required, correct value
"fields": { ... }, ✅ Required, present (empty schema)
"views": { ... } ✅ Required, present
}
```
### Fields Schema
```json
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {}
}
```
✅ **Valid**: Empty object schema indicates no dataset fields (MCP server doesn't store data in datasets)
### Views Schema
#### `overview` View ✅
- ✅ `title: "No Dataset Output"` - Present
- ✅ `description` - Present (explains why no dataset)
- ✅ `transformation.fields: []` - Empty array (no fields to display)
- ✅ `display.component: "table"` - Required, correct value
- ✅ `display.properties: {}` - Optional, empty object
## Why This Schema?
This MCP server:
- ✅ Returns JSON responses directly via MCP protocol
- ✅ Does NOT use `Actor.pushData()` to store data
- ✅ Does NOT store results in Apify datasets
- ✅ Communicates via MCP protocol (stdio or SSE)
The dataset schema is minimal to:
1. Satisfy Apify's requirement for dataset schema
2. Clearly indicate no dataset output is used
3. Provide a friendly message in the Output tab
## Compliance Status
✅ **FULLY COMPLIANT** with Apify's Dataset Schema Specification
### Validation Checklist
- ✅ `actorDatasetSchemaVersion: 1` - Correct version
- ✅ `fields` - Present with valid JSON Schema (empty object)
- ✅ `views` - Present with at least one view
- ✅ View has `title` - Present
- ✅ View has `transformation` - Present with `fields` array
- ✅ View has `display` - Present with `component: "table"`
- ✅ All required fields present
- ✅ No invalid fields
## Alternative: Separate File
The dataset schema can also be defined in a separate file:
```json
// .actor/actor.json
{
"storages": {
"dataset": "./dataset_schema.json"
}
}
```
We've chosen to include it inline in `actor.json` for simplicity.
## References
- [Apify Dataset Schema Documentation](https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/development/actor-definition/dataset-schema)
