---
title: "Update Pillar"
method: PATCH
path: "/api/v1/knowledge-base/pillars/{pillar_id}"
tags: ["Knowledge Base"]
---

# Update Pillar

`PATCH /api/v1/knowledge-base/pillars/{pillar_id}`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.athenahq.ai`
- URL: `https://api.athenahq.ai/api/v1/knowledge-base/pillars/{pillar_id}`
- Auth: API key in header `x-api-key`

Updates a Knowledge Base pillar's name, description, or status. At least one of the three must be provided; only provided fields change. Renaming returns a 409 when another pillar already uses the name. Status accepts published or archived: archiving hides the pillar from pillar listings and stops its facts feeding content generation, while keeping the facts stored. Requires a website-admin API key. Also available as the MCP tool `update_pillar`.

## Path parameters

- `pillar_id` string, uuid, required

## Request body

- object
  - `website_id` string, uuid, required: The website the pillar belongs to.
  - `name` string: New pillar name.
  - `description` string: New pillar description. An empty string clears the stored description.
  - `status` 'published' | 'archived': New status. Only published and archived are accepted; the pipeline-internal states (draft, researching) cannot be set over the API.

## Response `200`

The updated pillar plus a pre-update snapshot of the editable fields

- object
  - `pillar` object, required
    - `id` string, required
    - `name` string, required
    - `description` string, nullable, required
    - `status` 'researching' | 'published' | 'draft' | 'archived', required
  - `before` object, required: Values of the editable fields before this update.
    - `name` string, required
    - `description` string, nullable, required
    - `status` 'researching' | 'published' | 'draft' | 'archived', required

## Other responses

- `400`: Bad request - Invalid parameters, or no editable field was provided
- `401`: Unauthorized - Invalid or missing API key
- `403`: Forbidden - No admin access to this website, or the Knowledge Base is not enabled for the organization
- `404`: Not found - No pillar with this id on the website
- `409`: Conflict - Another pillar already uses the requested name

## Changes

- **2026-11-03** `2d1d86d5e067`: 1 info
  - endpoint added

[Operation history](https://skmtc.dev/athenahq/apis/athenahq-api/changes/api/v1/knowledge-base/pillars/:pillar_id/patch.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/athenahq/apis/athenahq-api.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/athenahq/apis/athenahq-api/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/athenahq/apis/athenahq-api/revisions/6cf9ca58edf6?raw)