--- title: "Update CustomEntity" method: PATCH path: "/api/v3/custom-entity/{custom_entity_id}" tags: ["Custom Entity"] --- # Update CustomEntity `PATCH /api/v3/custom-entity/{custom_entity_id}` ## Request - Base URL: `https://{tenant_name}.benchling.com` - URL: `https://{tenant_name}.benchling.com/api/v3/custom-entity/{custom_entity_id}` - Auth: HTTP bearer Update CustomEntity. ## Path parameters - `custom_entity_id` string, required ## Request body - UpdateCustomEntityInput - `aliases` string[] - `allowCustomFieldDeletion` boolean: When true, custom fields present on the entity but omitted from the update payload will be deleted. When false or omitted, omitting existing custom fields is an error. Defaults to false. - `archiveReason` string: Why it is being archived. Required when `archived` is `true`, and not allowed when unarchiving. - `archived` boolean: Set to `true` to archive or `false` to unarchive it. Archiving requires `archiveReason`. - `authorIds` string[] - `customFields` object - `entityRegistryId` string: Registry ID to assign to the entity. When registering, specifying this value sets the registry ID of the entity. When already registered, specifying this value updates the entity's registry ID. If set, naming_strategy must be unspecified. - `folderId` string - `name` string: Name of the item. - `namingStrategy` 'NEW_IDS' | 'IDS_FROM_NAMES' | 'DELETE_NAMES' | 'SET_FROM_NAME_PARTS' | 'REPLACE_NAMES_FROM_PARTS' | 'KEEP_NAMES' | 'REPLACE_ID_AND_NAME_FROM_PARTS': Strategy to use for labeling the item in the registry if registering. If one is specified, the entity_registry_id must be unspecified. - `registryId` string, nullable: A not null value means the entity should be registered. A null value means it should be unregistered. If not null, the value must match the registry of the item's schema. - `schemaFields` object - `schemaId` string ## Response `200` OK - CustomEntity: A flexible, user-defined entity type in Benchling's Registry. Unlike specialized entity types such as DnaSequence or Molecule, CustomEntities allow organizations to model any kind of scientific or business object using configurable EntitySchemas (see `schema`). CustomEntities support customFields for storing structured data, can be organized into Folders and Projects, and integrate with Benchling's collaboration, search, and audit systems. They are commonly used to represent cell lines, reagents, instruments, or any domain-specific items that don't fit predefined entity categories. - `__typename` string - `aliases` string[], nullable - `archiveReason` string, nullable - `archived` boolean - `createdAt` string, datetime, nullable - `customFields` CustomField[], nullable - `__typename` string - `name` string, nullable - `value` string, nullable - `entityRegistryId` string, nullable: The registry-assigned identifier for this item (e.g. its registry ID shown in the UI), present only once the item has been registered. Null if the item is not registered. - `folder` FolderRef - `__typename` string - `id` string, api_id - `id` string - `modifiedAt` string, datetime, nullable - `name` string, nullable: Name of the item. - `project` ProjectRef - `__typename` string - `id` string, api_id - `registrationOrigin` RegistrationOrigin: Captures the provenance of an entity's registration into the registry. The `originEntry` links to the `DocumentLike` (typically an entry or notebook) from which the entity was registered, providing traceability back to the original experimental context. The `registeredAt` timestamp records when the registration occurred. This information helps scientists understand where registered entities came from and when they were added to the registry. - `__typename` string - `originEntry` DocumentLikeRef - `__typename` string - `id` string, api_id - `registeredAt` string, datetime, nullable - `registry` RegistryRef - `__typename` string - `id` string, api_id - `schema` EntitySchemaRef - `__typename` string - `id` string, api_id - `typedSchema` CustomEntitySchemaRef - `__typename` string - `id` string, api_id - `authors` string, uri, nullable - `creator` PrincipalRef - `__typename` string - `id` string, api_id - `schemaFields` SchemaFieldValue[], nullable - `__typename` string - `fieldDefinition` SchemaFieldDefinitionRef - `__typename` string - `id` string, api_id - `id` string - `linkedEntityId` string, nullable - `value` union: Types of values that Benchling can interpret. - object: A type that represents a list of BenchlingValues, used for multi-value cells (e.g. alias columns). - `__typename` 'ArrayValue', required: Discriminator value: ArrayValue - `value` SingularBenchlingValue[] - union: A union of value types that can appear as elements within an ArrayValue. Identical to BenchlingValue but excludes ArrayValue to prevent nesting. Keep in sync with BenchlingValue. - object: A type that represents boolean values. - … - object: A type that represents datetime values. - … - object: A type that represents date values. - … - object: A type that represents decimal value as strings. - … - object: A type that represents integer values. - … - object: A type that represents JSON values. - … - object: A type that represents a list of links to other objects. - … - object: A type that represents links to other objects. - … - object: A type that represents text (string) values with an associated URL. - … - object: A type that represents text (string) values. - … - object: A type that represents boolean values. - `__typename` 'BooleanValue', required: Discriminator value: BooleanValue - `value` boolean: The boolean value. - object: A type that represents datetime values. - `__typename` 'DateTimeValue', required: Discriminator value: DateTimeValue - `value` string, datetime: The datetime value with UTC as the timezone. - object: A type that represents date values. - `__typename` 'DateValue', required: Discriminator value: DateValue - `value` string, date: The date value. - object: A type that represents decimal value as strings. - `__typename` 'DecimalValue', required: Discriminator value: DecimalValue - `numericValue` number, double, nullable: Deprecated. The float representation of the decimal value. - `value` string, nullable: The decimal value in a string representation - object: A type that represents integer values. - `__typename` 'IntegerValue', required: Discriminator value: IntegerValue - `value` integer: The integer value. - object: A type that represents JSON values. - `__typename` 'JsonValue', required: Discriminator value: JsonValue - `value` union: The JSON value. - object - string[] - string - number, double - boolean - object: A type that represents a list of links to other objects. - `__typename` 'ObjectLinkListValue', required: Discriminator value: ObjectLinkListValue - `value` LinkableDomainObject[]: The list of objects that this value links to. Inaccessible objects may be returned instead if the object is not found with the current permission set. - union: A union representing items that can be linked to. If you have a type that can be linked to, it can only be added once it's in beta. - object: AaSequence variant - … - object: Attachment variant - … - object: Box variant - … - object: Container variant - … - object: CustomEntity variant - … - object: DnaOligo variant - … - object: DnaSequence variant - … - object: DropdownOption variant - … - object: Entry variant - … - object: Inaccessible variant - … - object: Location variant - … - object: MatrixPlate variant - … - object: Mixture variant - … - object: Molecule variant - … - object: OligoConjugate variant - … - object: OligoDuplex variant - … - object: Protein variant - … - object: Result variant - … - object: RnaOligo variant - … - object: RnaSequence variant - … - object: WellPlate variant - … - object: A type that represents links to other objects. - `__typename` 'ObjectLinkValue', required: Discriminator value: ObjectLinkValue - `value` union: A union representing items that can be linked to. If you have a type that can be linked to, it can only be added once it's in beta. - object: AaSequence variant - `__typename` 'AaSequence', required: Discriminator value: AaSequence - `id` string, api_id - object: Attachment variant - `__typename` 'Attachment', required: Discriminator value: Attachment - `id` string, api_id - object: Box variant - `__typename` 'Box', required: Discriminator value: Box - `id` string, api_id - object: Container variant - `__typename` 'Container', required: Discriminator value: Container - `id` string, api_id - object: CustomEntity variant - `__typename` 'CustomEntity', required: Discriminator value: CustomEntity - `id` string, api_id - object: DnaOligo variant - `__typename` 'DnaOligo', required: Discriminator value: DnaOligo - `id` string, api_id - object: DnaSequence variant - `__typename` 'DnaSequence', required: Discriminator value: DnaSequence - `id` string, api_id - object: DropdownOption variant - `__typename` 'DropdownOption', required: Discriminator value: DropdownOption - `id` string, api_id - object: Entry variant - `__typename` 'Entry', required: Discriminator value: Entry - `id` string, api_id - object: Inaccessible variant - `__typename` 'Inaccessible', required: Discriminator value: Inaccessible - `id` string, api_id - object: Location variant - `__typename` 'Location', required: Discriminator value: Location - `id` string, api_id - object: MatrixPlate variant - `__typename` 'MatrixPlate', required: Discriminator value: MatrixPlate - `id` string, api_id - object: Mixture variant - `__typename` 'Mixture', required: Discriminator value: Mixture - `id` string, api_id - object: Molecule variant - `__typename` 'Molecule', required: Discriminator value: Molecule - `id` string, api_id - object: OligoConjugate variant - `__typename` 'OligoConjugate', required: Discriminator value: OligoConjugate - `id` string, api_id - object: OligoDuplex variant - `__typename` 'OligoDuplex', required: Discriminator value: OligoDuplex - `id` string, api_id - object: Protein variant - `__typename` 'Protein', required: Discriminator value: Protein - `id` string, api_id - object: Result variant - `__typename` 'Result', required: Discriminator value: Result - `id` string, api_id - object: RnaOligo variant - `__typename` 'RnaOligo', required: Discriminator value: RnaOligo - `id` string, api_id - object: RnaSequence variant - `__typename` 'RnaSequence', required: Discriminator value: RnaSequence - `id` string, api_id - object: WellPlate variant - `__typename` 'WellPlate', required: Discriminator value: WellPlate - `id` string, api_id - object: A type that represents text (string) values with an associated URL. - `__typename` string, required - `url` string: The URL associated with the value. Please use `TextValue` if you don't want a URL. - `value` string: The text value. It may or may not be an empty string. - object: A type that represents text (string) values. - `__typename` string, required - `value` string: The text value. It may or may not be an empty string. ## Other responses - `400`: Bad Request - `403`: Forbidden - `404`: Not Found - `409`: Conflict - `429`: Too Many Requests - `500`: Internal Server Error ## Changes - **2026-11-05** `3873a10bf7b8`: 1 breaking, 1 info - added `subschema #1, subschema #8, subschema #9` to the `schemaFields/items/value/oneOf[subschema #1: BenchlingValue]/` response property `oneOf` list for the response status `200` - removed `subschema #1, subschema #8, subschema #9` from the `schemaFields/items/value/oneOf[subschema #1: BenchlingValue]/` response property `oneOf` list for the response status `200` [Operation history](https://skmtc.dev/benchling/apis/benchling-api/changes/api/v3/custom-entity/:custom_entity_id/patch.md) --- [API](https://skmtc.dev/benchling/apis/benchling-api.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/benchling/apis/benchling-api/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/benchling/apis/benchling-api/revisions/3873a10bf7b8?raw)