# merge

URL: /business/nouns/contact/merge · Id: `verb:Contact.merge` · Call: `await $.Contact.merge({ … })` (SDK) or the `do` tool at `https://api.sb/mcp`. Inputs says what to pass, Outputs what returns, When it waits who approves.

> Merge joins a duplicate Contact into another, keeping every link, Message and Event on the one that remains.

Merge joins a duplicate [Contact](/business/nouns/contact) into another, keeping every link, [Message](/business/nouns/message) and [Event](/business/nouns/event) on the one that remains.

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `contact` | [Contact](/business/nouns/contact) | Yes | The duplicate. |
| `into` | [Contact](/business/nouns/contact) | Yes | The Contact that remains. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `contact` | [Contact](/business/nouns/contact) | Yes | The remaining Contact. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Contact.merged`](/business/events/Contact.merged).
- Performed by the [Sales Lead](/agents/sales/sales-lead).
- One-way: it waits out its delay window, and runs in the `send` and `do` modes.
- Keeps the merged id as an alias; nothing is deleted.

## Refuses when
| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | [Contact.merge](/business/nouns/contact/merge) |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | Medium: one-way, bounded |
| [Delay window](/systems/trust-and-governance/controls/one-way-windows) | 1 business hour, in which a watcher can pause, redirect or cancel it; then it runs. |
| Limit | The call [Limit](/business/nouns/limit) of the [Permission](/business/nouns/permission) it runs under. |
| Over the Limit | It waits `pending` for an [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) from the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder). Approved, it runs; refused, it ends `refused` with [`limit-exceeded`](/code/api/errors/limit-exceeded); unanswered by its deadline, it ends `canceled`. |

## Example

**Ask**

```text
Merge the contact Lena Fischer.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/petpantry.shop/contacts/contact_1/merge \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"into":"contact_1"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/petpantry.shop",
  "contact": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/petpantry.shop/contacts/contact_1",
    "$type": "Contact",
    "email": "lena@petpantry.shop",
    "phone": "Example phone"
  },
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/petpantry.shop/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Contact.merge",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/petpantry.shop/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

```ts
import { $ } from 'startup-builder'

const contact = await $.Contact.merge({ contact: 'contact_1', into: 'contact_1' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Contact.merge --json '{"contact":"contact_1","into":"contact_1"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Contact.merge({ contact: 'contact_1', into: 'contact_1' })"
  }
}
```