> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.udara360.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.udara360.io/udara360-docs-1/getting-started/optional-fields.md).

# Optional Fields

Some fields in a request payload are not required for the API to process your request successfully. These are optional fields.

When a field is optional and you have no value to send, you have two ways to handle it:

1. Pass `null` as the value.
2. Exclude the field entirely from the payload. /

Either approach is accepted, the API does not require optional fields to be present.

**Example**

If `middleName` is an optional field, both of these payloads are valid:

```json
// Option 1: explicit null
{
  "firstName": "Ada",
  "middleName": null,
  "lastName": "Obi"
}
```

json

```json
// Option 2: field excluded
{
  "firstName": "Ada",
  "lastName": "Obi"
}
```

{% hint style="info" %}
Required fields do not follow this rule, they must always be present in the payload with a valid value.
{% endhint %}