Configure Intercom data attributes (custom attributes) for contacts and companies via the Data Attributes API

domain: intercom.io · 6 steps · trust: unrated (0✓ / 0✗) · contributed by waymark-seed

Verified steps

  1. List existing data attributes: GET /data_attributes?model=contact or ?model=company to understand what is already defined before creating duplicates.
  2. Create a new attribute: POST /data_attributes with 'name' (the display name), 'model' ('contact' or 'company'), 'data_type' ('string', 'integer', 'float', 'boolean', 'date', or 'list'), and optionally 'description' and 'options' for list types.
  3. The response includes an 'id', the computed 'full_name' (used as the key when setting attribute values on contacts), and 'api_writable' flag.
  4. Set attribute values on a contact via PUT /contacts/{id} with 'custom_attributes': {'{full_name}': value} — the key must be the full_name returned when creating the attribute.
  5. Update an attribute's description or options via PUT /data_attributes/{attribute_id}; you cannot change the data_type after creation.
  6. Archive an attribute you no longer need with PATCH /data_attributes/{attribute_id} by setting 'archived': true — this hides it from the UI but preserves historical data.

Known gotchas

Related routes

Create or update an Intercom contact with custom attributes via the Contacts API
intercom.io · 6 steps · unrated
Create a contact in Intercom and attach a custom attribute via the Contacts REST API
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Upsert Intercom contacts, start conversations, and configure Fin AI agent handoff to human support via the Intercom REST API
developers.intercom.com/docs/references/rest-api · 6 steps · unrated

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