---
title: "References"
description: "Optimize JSON schema forms with Cloud CMS's <code>$ref</code>, enhancing reusability and seamless integration. (Gitana 4.0)"
product: "Gitana"
version: "4.0"
url: "/documentation/gitana/4.0/forms/cms/references"
---

# References

Forms may use a `$ref` variable to pull in or include the configuration of another Cloud CMS form (or sub-section of a form). This capability is designed to be compatible with the use of `$ref` within JSON schema for pulling in alternate schemas or definitions.

## `$ref` within schemas

Cloud CMS allows you to use the `$ref` variable within your schemas or definitions to pull in JSON schema blocks from other definitions on the same branch. This is typically done using a QName loader and generally takes on a form like this:

```
qname://{namespace}/{localName}
```

For more information on the use of references within Cloud CMS for definition support, please visit our page on [Content Model References](/documentation/gitana/4.0/forms/cms/references.md).

## `$ref` within forms

Cloud CMS lets you insert a similar `$ref` variable into your form blocks to reference and pull in other form configuration. The form reference is slightly different in that it includes a Form Key, like this:

```
qname://{namespace}/{localName}/{formKey}
```

This structure tells Cloud CMS to load the form with key `formKey` for the definition with QName `namespace:localName`.

In the end, no matter whether you're working with definitions or forms, the `$ref` variable is available to help you achieve reuse of your existing JSON investments.