> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.geosamples.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.geosamples.org/api/individuals.md).

# Individuals

## Search individuals

> Returns up to \`limit\` individuals ordered by ORCID first, then how many profile fields are populated, then label. Optionally filtered by \`query\`. Search matches label, first and last name, alternate label, description, and ORCID,

```json
{"openapi":"3.0.3","info":{"title":"SESAR API","version":"1.0.0"},"security":[{"tokenAuth":[]},{"jwtAuth":[]}],"components":{"securitySchemes":{"tokenAuth":{"type":"apiKey","in":"header","name":"Authorization","description":"Token-based authentication with required prefix \"Token\""},"jwtAuth":{"type":"http","scheme":"bearer","bearerFormat":"JWT"}},"schemas":{"IndividualListSuccess":{"type":"object","properties":{"data":{"type":"array","items":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Individual"},"description":"Matching individuals (up to `limit`)."}},"required":["data"]},"Individual":{"type":"object","properties":{"id":{"type":"integer","readOnly":true},"label":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":200},"fname":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":100},"lname":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":100},"alt_label":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":100},"description":{"type":"string","nullable":true},"address":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":500},"email":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"phone":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"fax":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"individual_uri":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"institutions":{"type":"array","items":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Institution"},"readOnly":true},"institution_detail":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"country":{"type":"string","readOnly":true},"can_edit":{"type":"string","readOnly":true}},"required":["can_edit","country","id","institutions"]},"Institution":{"type":"object","properties":{"id":{"type":"integer","readOnly":true},"institution_type":{"type":"string","readOnly":true},"label":{"type":"string","maxLength":200},"alt_label":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":200},"description":{"type":"string","nullable":true},"country":{"type":"string","readOnly":true},"country_subdivision":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"city":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"ror":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":25},"parent_institutions":{"type":"string","readOnly":true},"can_edit":{"type":"string","readOnly":true},"created_by":{"type":"integer","nullable":true}},"required":["can_edit","country","id","institution_type","label","parent_institutions"]}}},"paths":{"/api/individuals/":{"get":{"operationId":"individuals_retrieve","description":"Returns up to `limit` individuals ordered by ORCID first, then how many profile fields are populated, then label. Optionally filtered by `query`. Search matches label, first and last name, alternate label, description, and ORCID,","summary":"Search individuals","parameters":[{"in":"query","name":"limit","schema":{"type":"integer"},"description":"Maximum rows to return (clamped between 1 and 100, default 25)."},{"in":"query","name":"query","schema":{"type":"string"},"description":"Case-insensitive substring filter across name, ORCID, and related text fields."}],"tags":["Individuals"],"responses":{"200":{"content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/IndividualListSuccess"}}},"description":""}}}}}}
```

## Create individual

> Creates a new individual record for linking to a sample, for example a collector.

```json
{"openapi":"3.0.3","info":{"title":"SESAR API","version":"1.0.0"},"security":[{"tokenAuth":[]},{"jwtAuth":[]}],"components":{"securitySchemes":{"tokenAuth":{"type":"apiKey","in":"header","name":"Authorization","description":"Token-based authentication with required prefix \"Token\""},"jwtAuth":{"type":"http","scheme":"bearer","bearerFormat":"JWT"}},"schemas":{"IndividualWrite":{"type":"object","properties":{"label":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":200},"fname":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":100},"lname":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":100},"alt_label":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":100},"description":{"type":"string","nullable":true},"address":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":500},"email":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"phone":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"fax":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"individual_uri":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"country":{"type":"string","nullable":true},"institution_detail":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"institutions":{"type":"array","items":{"type":"integer"}}}},"IndividualCreateSuccess":{"type":"object","properties":{"data":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Individual"}},"required":["data"]},"Individual":{"type":"object","properties":{"id":{"type":"integer","readOnly":true},"label":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":200},"fname":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":100},"lname":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":100},"alt_label":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":100},"description":{"type":"string","nullable":true},"address":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":500},"email":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"phone":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"fax":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"individual_uri":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"institutions":{"type":"array","items":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Institution"},"readOnly":true},"institution_detail":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"country":{"type":"string","readOnly":true},"can_edit":{"type":"string","readOnly":true}},"required":["can_edit","country","id","institutions"]},"Institution":{"type":"object","properties":{"id":{"type":"integer","readOnly":true},"institution_type":{"type":"string","readOnly":true},"label":{"type":"string","maxLength":200},"alt_label":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":200},"description":{"type":"string","nullable":true},"country":{"type":"string","readOnly":true},"country_subdivision":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"city":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":255},"ror":{"type":"string","nullable":true,"maxLength":25},"parent_institutions":{"type":"string","readOnly":true},"can_edit":{"type":"string","readOnly":true},"created_by":{"type":"integer","nullable":true}},"required":["can_edit","country","id","institution_type","label","parent_institutions"]}}},"paths":{"/api/individuals/":{"post":{"operationId":"individuals_create","description":"Creates a new individual record for linking to a sample, for example a collector.","summary":"Create individual","tags":["Individuals"],"requestBody":{"content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/IndividualWrite"}},"application/x-www-form-urlencoded":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/IndividualWrite"}},"multipart/form-data":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/IndividualWrite"}}}},"responses":{"201":{"content":{"application/json":{"schema":{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/IndividualCreateSuccess"}}},"description":""}}}}}}
```


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.geosamples.org/api/individuals.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.