# PATCH Update the materials section

Partially update the materials section with a JSON Merge Patch (RFC 7396): the request body is a JSON object that contains only the properties to change. Omitted properties are unchanged, null clears a property that can hold null, and an empty object {} is a valid no-op. This section accepts title and description. Any other property is refused with a 422 problem with code `unknown_field`, and `object`, `customiser_id` and `updated_at` are refused as read-only. The first write creates the section. Requires the `customisers:write` scope. title and description are customiser text in the authoring language. A write replaces an unpublished Languages draft of the same text, and the response then lists the replaced keys in meta.replaced_drafts. On a sign type that does not offer materials, the write is refused with a 422 problem with code `option_family_not_supported` and pointer "", as writes to the materials themselves are, and nothing is stored. The read stays available. A successful update immediately changes the storefront: the customiser's cached configuration is invalidated and translated language content is resynchronised. It never regenerates your Shopify products, product images, or product cache. Send an `Idempotency-Key` header (1-255 visible ASCII characters, e.g. a UUID) to make the write safe to retry: repeating the same key with the same body replays the original response (marked `Idempotency-Replay: true`) without executing again; the same key with a different body is a 409 problem with code `idempotency_key_conflict`. The header is optional here, as on the option families' update operations. Validation failures are 422 problems: `validation_failed` lists every field error in `errors[]` with a JSON `pointer`. A 400 problem means the body is not valid JSON; a 422 problem with code `invalid_document` means the body is not a JSON object. 401/403/404/429 behave as on the read operation, with `customisers:write` as the required scope.

- Source URL: https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/api/v3-patch-update-the-materials-section/
- Markdown URL: https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/api/v3-patch-update-the-materials-section.md
- Group: Customiser sections
- Method: PATCH
- Path: /api/v3/customisers/{customiser_id}/materials-section
- Auth: Bearer token
- Required scopes: `customisers:write`

## Path parameters

- customiser_id (string, required): The customiser id, from the list customisers operation. Example: 1

## Body parameters

- title (string, optional): No description provided.
- description (string, optional): No description provided.

## Request body example

```json
{
  "title": "Choose your material",
  "description": "Pick one of our materials."
}
```

## cURL example

```bash
curl https://web.signcustomiser.com/api/v3/customisers/1/materials-section \
  --request PATCH \
  --header 'Accept: application/json' \
  --header 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{
  "title": "Choose your material",
  "description": "Pick one of our materials."
}'
```

## Response examples

### 200 Patched materials section

```json
{
  "data": {
    "object": "material_section",
    "customiser_id": 42,
    "title": "Choose your material",
    "description": "Pick one of our materials.",
    "updated_at": "2026-05-04T09:12:31Z"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://web.signcustomiser.com/api/v3/customisers/42/materials-section",
    "documentation": "https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/api/"
  },
  "meta": {
    "api_version": "v3",
    "request_id": "req_01jz9x2k7c8f3m5n6p7q8r9s0t"
  }
}
```

### 400 Malformed JSON body

```json
{
  "type": "https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/api/problems/malformed_json",
  "title": "Malformed JSON",
  "status": 400,
  "code": "malformed_json",
  "detail": "The request body is not valid JSON: Syntax error.",
  "request_id": "req_01jz9x2k7c8f3m5n6p7q8r9s0t"
}
```

### 401 Missing API key

```json
{
  "type": "https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/api/problems/missing_api_key",
  "title": "Missing API key",
  "status": 401,
  "code": "missing_api_key",
  "detail": "Provide a store API key as a bearer token: Authorization: Bearer <api key>. Keys are created in the merchant admin under Integrate → API Tokens.",
  "request_id": "req_01jz9x2k7c8f3m5n6p7q8r9s0t"
}
```

### 403 Insufficient scope

```json
{
  "type": "https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/api/problems/insufficient_scope",
  "title": "Insufficient scope",
  "status": 403,
  "code": "insufficient_scope",
  "detail": "This operation requires the customisers:write scope, but the API key grants the following scopes: customisers:read. Create a key that includes the required scope in the merchant admin under Integrate → API Tokens.",
  "required_scopes": [
    "customisers:write"
  ],
  "granted_scopes": [
    "customisers:read"
  ],
  "request_id": "req_01jz9x2k7c8f3m5n6p7q8r9s0t"
}
```

### 404 Unknown customiser

```json
{
  "type": "https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/api/problems/resource_not_found",
  "title": "Resource not found",
  "status": 404,
  "code": "resource_not_found",
  "detail": "The requested resource does not exist or does not belong to the authenticated store.",
  "request_id": "req_01jz9x2k7c8f3m5n6p7q8r9s0t"
}
```

### 409 Idempotency key conflict

```json
{
  "type": "https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/api/problems/idempotency_key_conflict",
  "title": "Idempotency key conflict",
  "status": 409,
  "code": "idempotency_key_conflict",
  "detail": "This Idempotency-Key was already used for a different request body on this operation. An idempotency key identifies one exact request: retry the original body to replay its response, or send the new body with a fresh key.",
  "request_id": "req_01jz9x2k7c8f3m5n6p7q8r9s0t"
}
```

### 422 Sign type does not offer materials

```json
{
  "type": "https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/api/problems/option_family_not_supported",
  "title": "Option family not supported",
  "status": 422,
  "code": "option_family_not_supported",
  "detail": "Materials are offered only on neon, cut-out metal and stencil signs. This customiser cannot create, change or reorder materials; you can still read and delete existing ones.",
  "errors": [
    {
      "pointer": "",
      "code": "option_family_not_supported",
      "detail": "Materials are offered only on neon, cut-out metal and stencil signs. This customiser cannot create, change or reorder materials; you can still read and delete existing ones."
    }
  ],
  "request_id": "req_01jz9x2k7c8f3m5n6p7q8r9s0t"
}
```

### 422 Validation failed

```json
{
  "type": "https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/api/problems/validation_failed",
  "title": "Validation failed",
  "status": 422,
  "code": "validation_failed",
  "detail": "The request payload failed validation. Correct the fields listed in errors and retry.",
  "errors": [
    {
      "pointer": "/title",
      "code": "string",
      "detail": "The title field must be a string."
    }
  ],
  "request_id": "req_01jz9x2k7c8f3m5n6p7q8r9s0t"
}
```

### 422 Unknown field

```json
{
  "type": "https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/api/problems/unknown_field",
  "title": "Unknown field",
  "status": 422,
  "code": "unknown_field",
  "detail": "The request contains fields this operation does not define: /selection_type.",
  "errors": [
    {
      "pointer": "/selection_type",
      "code": "unknown_field",
      "detail": "The field \"selection_type\" is not supported by this operation."
    }
  ],
  "request_id": "req_01jz9x2k7c8f3m5n6p7q8r9s0t"
}
```

### 429 Rate limited

```json
{
  "type": "https://www.signcustomiser.com/help/api/problems/rate_limited",
  "title": "Too many requests",
  "status": 429,
  "code": "rate_limited",
  "detail": "You have exceeded the request limit for this API key. Wait 60 seconds, then retry.",
  "retry_after": 60,
  "request_id": "req_01jz9x2k7c8f3m5n6p7q8r9s0t"
}
```