---
title: "POST /criticalDataElements"
method: POST
path: "/criticalDataElements"
tags: ["CriticalDataElements"]
---

# POST /criticalDataElements

`POST /criticalDataElements`

## Request

- Base URL: `{endpoint}/datagovernance/catalog`
- URL: `{endpoint}/datagovernance/catalog/criticalDataElements`
- Auth: OAuth 2
  - Implicit: `https://login.microsoftonline.com/common/oauth2/authorize`
  - Scopes: `https://purview.azure.net/.default`

Creates a new critical data element in the catalog. Rate limit: 200 requests per 20-second window.

## Query parameters

- `api-version` string, required

## Request body

- CriticalDataElement: Represents a critical data element in the catalog with metadata and relationships.
  - `status` 'DRAFT' | 'PUBLISHED' | 'EXPIRED': Status of a catalog model entity indicating its lifecycle state.
  - `dataType` 'TEXT' | 'NUMBER' | 'DATETIME' | 'BOOLEAN': Data types supported for critical data elements.
  - `id` string, uuid, required: Universally Unique Identifier
  - `name` string: The name of the critical data element.
  - `systemData` CatalogModelSystemDataWithExpired: System metadata with expiration information for catalog entities.
    - `provisioningState` 'Unknown' | 'Succeeded' | 'SoftDeleted': The provisioning state of a data asset.
    - `createdAt` string, date-time: The timestamp when the record was created.
    - `createdBy` string, uuid: Universally Unique Identifier
    - `lastModifiedAt` string, date-time: The timestamp when the record was last modified.
    - `lastModifiedBy` string, uuid: Universally Unique Identifier
    - `expiredAt` string, date-time: The timestamp when the record expires.
    - `expiredBy` string, uuid: Universally Unique Identifier
  - `domain` string, uuid: Universally Unique Identifier
  - `description` string: A detailed description of the critical data element.
  - `contacts` ContactsMap: A dictionary of contact lists keyed by contact type (e.g., 'Owner', 'Expert').
    - `owner` CatalogModelContactsValueInner[]: List of owner contacts.
      - `id` string, uuid: Universally Unique Identifier
      - `description` string: A description of this user assignment
    - `expert` CatalogModelContactsValueInner[]: List of expert contacts.
      - `id` string, uuid: Universally Unique Identifier
      - `description` string: A description of this user assignment
    - `databaseAdmin` CatalogModelContactsValueInner[]: List of database administrator contacts.
      - `id` string, uuid: Universally Unique Identifier
      - `description` string: A description of this user assignment
  - `managedAttributes` CatalogModelManagedAttribute[]: Managed attributes associated with this critical data element.
    - `name` string: The name of the managed attribute.
    - `value` string: The value of the attribute.
    - `isRequired` boolean: Whether this attribute is required.

## Response `201`

The request has succeeded and a new resource has been created as a result.

- CriticalDataElement: Represents a critical data element in the catalog with metadata and relationships.
  - `status` 'DRAFT' | 'PUBLISHED' | 'EXPIRED': Status of a catalog model entity indicating its lifecycle state.
  - `dataType` 'TEXT' | 'NUMBER' | 'DATETIME' | 'BOOLEAN': Data types supported for critical data elements.
  - `id` string, uuid, required: Universally Unique Identifier
  - `name` string: The name of the critical data element.
  - `systemData` CatalogModelSystemDataWithExpired: System metadata with expiration information for catalog entities.
    - `provisioningState` 'Unknown' | 'Succeeded' | 'SoftDeleted': The provisioning state of a data asset.
    - `createdAt` string, date-time: The timestamp when the record was created.
    - `createdBy` string, uuid: Universally Unique Identifier
    - `lastModifiedAt` string, date-time: The timestamp when the record was last modified.
    - `lastModifiedBy` string, uuid: Universally Unique Identifier
    - `expiredAt` string, date-time: The timestamp when the record expires.
    - `expiredBy` string, uuid: Universally Unique Identifier
  - `domain` string, uuid: Universally Unique Identifier
  - `description` string: A detailed description of the critical data element.
  - `contacts` ContactsMap: A dictionary of contact lists keyed by contact type (e.g., 'Owner', 'Expert').
    - `owner` CatalogModelContactsValueInner[]: List of owner contacts.
      - `id` string, uuid: Universally Unique Identifier
      - `description` string: A description of this user assignment
    - `expert` CatalogModelContactsValueInner[]: List of expert contacts.
      - `id` string, uuid: Universally Unique Identifier
      - `description` string: A description of this user assignment
    - `databaseAdmin` CatalogModelContactsValueInner[]: List of database administrator contacts.
      - `id` string, uuid: Universally Unique Identifier
      - `description` string: A description of this user assignment
  - `managedAttributes` CatalogModelManagedAttribute[]: Managed attributes associated with this critical data element.
    - `name` string: The name of the managed attribute.
    - `value` string: The value of the attribute.
    - `isRequired` boolean: Whether this attribute is required.

## Other responses

- `default`: An unexpected error response.

## Changes

- **2026-07-13** (2025-09-15-preview) `4928fc2e3948`: 1 info
  - api operation id `CreateCriticalDataElement` removed and replaced with `CriticalDataElements_Create`
- **2025-10-01** (2025-09-15-preview) `a588e84c8390`: 1 info
  - api operation id `CriticalDataElements_Create` removed and replaced with `CreateCriticalDataElement`

[Operation history](https://skmtc.dev/azure/apis/purviewdatagovernance-azure-analytics-purview-unifiedcatalog/changes/criticalDataElements/post.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/azure/apis/purviewdatagovernance-azure-analytics-purview-unifiedcatalog.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/azure/apis/purviewdatagovernance-azure-analytics-purview-unifiedcatalog/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/azure/apis/purviewdatagovernance-azure-analytics-purview-unifiedcatalog/revisions/70d32c954a8c?raw)