# Encode a Credential

* [Request Parameters](#request-parameters)
* [Response](#response)

Encodes an existing [credential](https://docs.seam.co/latest/capability-guides/access-systems/managing-credentials) onto a plastic card placed on the specified [encoder](https://docs.seam.co/latest/capability-guides/access-systems/working-with-card-encoders-and-scanners). Either provide an `acs_credential_id` or an `access_method_id`

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="JavaScript" %}
Encodes an existing credential onto a plastic card placed on the specified encoder.

**Code:**

```javascript
await seam.acs.encoders.encodeCredential({
  acs_encoder_id: "18ad521a-308e-4182-b1a6-2338b46a2763",
  acs_credential_id: "a383871c-331a-42ae-af66-146824505187",
});
```

**Output:**

```javascript
{
  "action_attempt_id": "1b4e28ba-2fa1-11d2-883f-0016d3cca427",
  "action_type": "ENCODE_CREDENTIAL",
  "error": null,
  "result": {
    "access_method": "card",
    "acs_credential_id": "73a0a199-024f-454d-a916-9bbda8502c12",
    "acs_system_id": "b1d03165-2759-474b-a342-e02223f27b39",
    "acs_user_id": "0fc82df4-391b-4d00-a234-86378f1c3952",
    "card_number": "164d29dc4a09b65f",
    "created_at": "2025-06-16T16:54:17.946514Z",
    "display_name": "Guest Lock 1, Vingcard Lock 2",
    "ends_at": "2025-07-12T16:54:17.946512Z",
    "errors": [],
    "external_type": "visionline_card",
    "external_type_display_name": "Visionline Card",
    "is_issued": true,
    "is_latest_desired_state_synced_with_provider": true,
    "is_managed": true,
    "is_multi_phone_sync_credential": false,
    "issued_at": "2025-06-16T16:54:17.946512Z",
    "latest_desired_state_synced_with_provider_at": "2025-06-18T16:54:17.946514Z",
    "starts_at": "2025-07-10T16:54:17.946512Z",
    "visionline_metadata": {
      "card_function_type": "guest",
      "card_id": "5",
      "common_acs_entrance_ids": ["5f4e3d2c-1b0a-9f8e-7d6c-5b4a3c2d1e0f"],
      "credential_id": "15",
      "guest_acs_entrance_ids": ["a1b2c3d4-e5f6-4a3b-2c1d-0e9f8a7b6c5d"],
      "is_valid": true
    },
    "warnings": [],
    "workspace_id": "005f1e54-5360-40db-8c31-4ef6baaad1fd"
  },
  "status": "success"
}
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="cURL" %}
Encodes an existing credential onto a plastic card placed on the specified encoder.

**Code:**

```curl
curl --include --request POST "https://connect.getseam.com/acs/encoders/encode_credential" \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $SEAM_API_KEY" \
  --json @- <<EOF
{
  "acs_encoder_id": "18ad521a-308e-4182-b1a6-2338b46a2763",
  "acs_credential_id": "a383871c-331a-42ae-af66-146824505187"
}
EOF
```

**Output:**

```curl
{
  "action_attempt": {
    "action_attempt_id": "1b4e28ba-2fa1-11d2-883f-0016d3cca427",
    "action_type": "ENCODE_CREDENTIAL",
    "error": null,
    "result": {
      "access_method": "card",
      "acs_credential_id": "73a0a199-024f-454d-a916-9bbda8502c12",
      "acs_system_id": "b1d03165-2759-474b-a342-e02223f27b39",
      "acs_user_id": "0fc82df4-391b-4d00-a234-86378f1c3952",
      "card_number": "164d29dc4a09b65f",
      "created_at": "2025-06-16T16:54:17.946514Z",
      "display_name": "Guest Lock 1, Vingcard Lock 2",
      "ends_at": "2025-07-12T16:54:17.946512Z",
      "errors": [],
      "external_type": "visionline_card",
      "external_type_display_name": "Visionline Card",
      "is_issued": true,
      "is_latest_desired_state_synced_with_provider": true,
      "is_managed": true,
      "is_multi_phone_sync_credential": false,
      "issued_at": "2025-06-16T16:54:17.946512Z",
      "latest_desired_state_synced_with_provider_at": "2025-06-18T16:54:17.946514Z",
      "starts_at": "2025-07-10T16:54:17.946512Z",
      "visionline_metadata": {
        "card_function_type": "guest",
        "card_id": "5",
        "common_acs_entrance_ids": ["5f4e3d2c-1b0a-9f8e-7d6c-5b4a3c2d1e0f"],
        "credential_id": "15",
        "guest_acs_entrance_ids": ["a1b2c3d4-e5f6-4a3b-2c1d-0e9f8a7b6c5d"],
        "is_valid": true
      },
      "warnings": [],
      "workspace_id": "005f1e54-5360-40db-8c31-4ef6baaad1fd"
    },
    "status": "success"
  }
}
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Python" %}
Encodes an existing credential onto a plastic card placed on the specified encoder.

**Code:**

```python
seam.acs.encoders.encode_credential(
    acs_encoder_id="18ad521a-308e-4182-b1a6-2338b46a2763",
    acs_credential_id="a383871c-331a-42ae-af66-146824505187",
)
```

**Output:**

```python
ActionAttempt(
    action_attempt_id="1b4e28ba-2fa1-11d2-883f-0016d3cca427",
    action_type="ENCODE_CREDENTIAL",
    error=None,
    result={
        "access_method": "card",
        "acs_credential_id": "73a0a199-024f-454d-a916-9bbda8502c12",
        "acs_system_id": "b1d03165-2759-474b-a342-e02223f27b39",
        "acs_user_id": "0fc82df4-391b-4d00-a234-86378f1c3952",
        "card_number": "164d29dc4a09b65f",
        "created_at": "2025-06-16T16:54:17.946514Z",
        "display_name": "Guest Lock 1, Vingcard Lock 2",
        "ends_at": "2025-07-12T16:54:17.946512Z",
        "errors": [],
        "external_type": "visionline_card",
        "external_type_display_name": "Visionline Card",
        "is_issued": true,
        "is_latest_desired_state_synced_with_provider": true,
        "is_managed": true,
        "is_multi_phone_sync_credential": false,
        "issued_at": "2025-06-16T16:54:17.946512Z",
        "latest_desired_state_synced_with_provider_at": "2025-06-18T16:54:17.946514Z",
        "starts_at": "2025-07-10T16:54:17.946512Z",
        "visionline_metadata": {
            "card_function_type": "guest",
            "card_id": "5",
            "common_acs_entrance_ids": ["5f4e3d2c-1b0a-9f8e-7d6c-5b4a3c2d1e0f"],
            "credential_id": "15",
            "guest_acs_entrance_ids": ["a1b2c3d4-e5f6-4a3b-2c1d-0e9f8a7b6c5d"],
            "is_valid": true,
        },
        "warnings": [],
        "workspace_id": "005f1e54-5360-40db-8c31-4ef6baaad1fd",
    },
    status="success",
)
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Ruby" %}
Encodes an existing credential onto a plastic card placed on the specified encoder.

**Code:**

```ruby
seam.acs.encoders.encode_credential(
  acs_encoder_id: "18ad521a-308e-4182-b1a6-2338b46a2763",
  acs_credential_id: "a383871c-331a-42ae-af66-146824505187",
)
```

**Output:**

```ruby
{
  "action_attempt_id" => "1b4e28ba-2fa1-11d2-883f-0016d3cca427",
  "action_type" => "ENCODE_CREDENTIAL",
  "error" => nil,
  "result" => {
    access_method: "card",
    acs_credential_id: "73a0a199-024f-454d-a916-9bbda8502c12",
    acs_system_id: "b1d03165-2759-474b-a342-e02223f27b39",
    acs_user_id: "0fc82df4-391b-4d00-a234-86378f1c3952",
    card_number: "164d29dc4a09b65f",
    created_at: "2025-06-16T16:54:17.946514Z",
    display_name: "Guest Lock 1, Vingcard Lock 2",
    ends_at: "2025-07-12T16:54:17.946512Z",
    errors: [],
    external_type: "visionline_card",
    external_type_display_name: "Visionline Card",
    is_issued: true,
    is_latest_desired_state_synced_with_provider: true,
    is_managed: true,
    is_multi_phone_sync_credential: false,
    issued_at: "2025-06-16T16:54:17.946512Z",
    latest_desired_state_synced_with_provider_at: "2025-06-18T16:54:17.946514Z",
    starts_at: "2025-07-10T16:54:17.946512Z",
    visionline_metadata: {
      card_function_type: "guest",
      card_id: "5",
      common_acs_entrance_ids: ["5f4e3d2c-1b0a-9f8e-7d6c-5b4a3c2d1e0f"],
      credential_id: "15",
      guest_acs_entrance_ids: ["a1b2c3d4-e5f6-4a3b-2c1d-0e9f8a7b6c5d"],
      is_valid: true,
    },
    warnings: [],
    workspace_id: "005f1e54-5360-40db-8c31-4ef6baaad1fd",
  },
  "status" => "success",
}
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="PHP" %}
Encodes an existing credential onto a plastic card placed on the specified encoder.

**Code:**

```php
$seam->acs->encoders->encode_credential(
    acs_encoder_id: "18ad521a-308e-4182-b1a6-2338b46a2763",
    acs_credential_id: "a383871c-331a-42ae-af66-146824505187",
);
```

**Output:**

```php
[
    "action_attempt_id" => "1b4e28ba-2fa1-11d2-883f-0016d3cca427",
    "action_type" => "ENCODE_CREDENTIAL",
    "error" => null,
    "result" => [
        "access_method" => "card",
        "acs_credential_id" => "73a0a199-024f-454d-a916-9bbda8502c12",
        "acs_system_id" => "b1d03165-2759-474b-a342-e02223f27b39",
        "acs_user_id" => "0fc82df4-391b-4d00-a234-86378f1c3952",
        "card_number" => "164d29dc4a09b65f",
        "created_at" => "2025-06-16T16:54:17.946514Z",
        "display_name" => "Guest Lock 1, Vingcard Lock 2",
        "ends_at" => "2025-07-12T16:54:17.946512Z",
        "errors" => [],
        "external_type" => "visionline_card",
        "external_type_display_name" => "Visionline Card",
        "is_issued" => true,
        "is_latest_desired_state_synced_with_provider" => true,
        "is_managed" => true,
        "is_multi_phone_sync_credential" => false,
        "issued_at" => "2025-06-16T16:54:17.946512Z",
        "latest_desired_state_synced_with_provider_at" =>
            "2025-06-18T16:54:17.946514Z",
        "starts_at" => "2025-07-10T16:54:17.946512Z",
        "visionline_metadata" => [
            "card_function_type" => "guest",
            "card_id" => "5",
            "common_acs_entrance_ids" => [
                "5f4e3d2c-1b0a-9f8e-7d6c-5b4a3c2d1e0f",
            ],
            "credential_id" => "15",
            "guest_acs_entrance_ids" => [
                "a1b2c3d4-e5f6-4a3b-2c1d-0e9f8a7b6c5d",
            ],
            "is_valid" => true,
        ],
        "warnings" => [],
        "workspace_id" => "005f1e54-5360-40db-8c31-4ef6baaad1fd",
    ],
    "status" => "success",
];
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Seam CLI" %}
Encodes an existing credential onto a plastic card placed on the specified encoder.

**Code:**

```seam_cli
seam acs encoders encode-credential --acs_encoder_id "18ad521a-308e-4182-b1a6-2338b46a2763" --acs_credential_id "a383871c-331a-42ae-af66-146824505187"
```

**Output:**

```seam_cli
{
  "action_attempt_id": "1b4e28ba-2fa1-11d2-883f-0016d3cca427",
  "action_type": "ENCODE_CREDENTIAL",
  "error": null,
  "result": {
    "access_method": "card",
    "acs_credential_id": "73a0a199-024f-454d-a916-9bbda8502c12",
    "acs_system_id": "b1d03165-2759-474b-a342-e02223f27b39",
    "acs_user_id": "0fc82df4-391b-4d00-a234-86378f1c3952",
    "card_number": "164d29dc4a09b65f",
    "created_at": "2025-06-16T16:54:17.946514Z",
    "display_name": "Guest Lock 1, Vingcard Lock 2",
    "ends_at": "2025-07-12T16:54:17.946512Z",
    "errors": [],
    "external_type": "visionline_card",
    "external_type_display_name": "Visionline Card",
    "is_issued": true,
    "is_latest_desired_state_synced_with_provider": true,
    "is_managed": true,
    "is_multi_phone_sync_credential": false,
    "issued_at": "2025-06-16T16:54:17.946512Z",
    "latest_desired_state_synced_with_provider_at": "2025-06-18T16:54:17.946514Z",
    "starts_at": "2025-07-10T16:54:17.946512Z",
    "visionline_metadata": {
      "card_function_type": "guest",
      "card_id": "5",
      "common_acs_entrance_ids": ["5f4e3d2c-1b0a-9f8e-7d6c-5b4a3c2d1e0f"],
      "credential_id": "15",
      "guest_acs_entrance_ids": ["a1b2c3d4-e5f6-4a3b-2c1d-0e9f8a7b6c5d"],
      "is_valid": true
    },
    "warnings": [],
    "workspace_id": "005f1e54-5360-40db-8c31-4ef6baaad1fd"
  },
  "status": "success"
}
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

<details>

<summary>Authentication Methods</summary>

* API key
* Client session token
* Personal access token\
  Must also include the `seam-workspace` header in the request.

To learn more, see [Authentication](https://docs.seam.co/latest/api/authentication).

</details>

## Request Parameters

**`acs_encoder_id`** *String* (Required)

ID of the `acs_encoder` to use to encode the `acs_credential`.

***

**`access_method_id`** *String*

ID of the `access_method` to encode onto a card.

***

**`acs_credential_id`** *String*

ID of the `acs_credential` to encode onto a card.

***

## Response

{% hint style="success" %}
Returns: [**action\_attempt**](/latest/api/acs/encoders.md)
{% endhint %}

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="JSON" %}

```json
{
  "action_attempt_id": "1b4e28ba-2fa1-11d2-883f-0016d3cca427",
  "action_type": "ENCODE_CREDENTIAL",
  "error": null,
  "result": {
    "access_method": "card",
    "acs_credential_id": "73a0a199-024f-454d-a916-9bbda8502c12",
    "acs_system_id": "b1d03165-2759-474b-a342-e02223f27b39",
    "acs_user_id": "0fc82df4-391b-4d00-a234-86378f1c3952",
    "card_number": "164d29dc4a09b65f",
    "created_at": "2025-06-16T16:54:17.946514Z",
    "display_name": "Guest Lock 1, Vingcard Lock 2",
    "ends_at": "2025-07-12T16:54:17.946512Z",
    "errors": [],
    "external_type": "visionline_card",
    "external_type_display_name": "Visionline Card",
    "is_issued": true,
    "is_latest_desired_state_synced_with_provider": true,
    "is_managed": true,
    "is_multi_phone_sync_credential": false,
    "issued_at": "2025-06-16T16:54:17.946512Z",
    "latest_desired_state_synced_with_provider_at": "2025-06-18T16:54:17.946514Z",
    "starts_at": "2025-07-10T16:54:17.946512Z",
    "visionline_metadata": {
      "card_function_type": "guest",
      "card_id": "5",
      "common_acs_entrance_ids": ["5f4e3d2c-1b0a-9f8e-7d6c-5b4a3c2d1e0f"],
      "credential_id": "15",
      "guest_acs_entrance_ids": ["a1b2c3d4-e5f6-4a3b-2c1d-0e9f8a7b6c5d"],
      "is_valid": true
    },
    "warnings": [],
    "workspace_id": "005f1e54-5360-40db-8c31-4ef6baaad1fd"
  },
  "status": "success"
}
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}


---

# Agent Instructions: 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:

```
GET https://docs.seam.co/latest/api/acs/encoders/encode_credential.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
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.