---
id: public-api.case-schema
title: Case Serialization
summary: Preserve current Case envelopes, canonical content, material blocks, compatibility projections, and separate reference-output context.
kind: api
product_area: public_api
status: stable
updated: 2026-10-31
canonical: /docs/public-api/case-schema
---

# Case Serialization

## Definition

The current Case record includes issued `case_id` and `dataset_record_id`, creation/update timestamps, canonical `content`, `content_schema_version`, derived `content_search_text`, `legacy_metadata` and available `latest_version` output context.

Canonical content uses `schema_version: dataset_record.content.v1`, an input container and optional `case_materials`, `world_refs` and `capability_refs`.

## Canonical and rendered content

The owning schema defines message or structured-object input and material-block alternatives. Do not flatten these into the earlier proposed `input.kind: plain_text` envelope or invent another public context object.

A saved Case view is a rendered projection. It does not become another editable canonical payload.

## Materials and references

Preserve declared material keys, artifact references and issued identities. Display paths and search text are not content authority.

Source World references are separate from an executable `world_instance_ref`. A serialized field does not establish a World-management endpoint or durable provisioning workflow.

## Outputs and history

Latest reference-output context can include an output and normalized trajectory. It is not the response of every candidate Run. Frozen benchmark Case identities and revisions come from the selected Version's manifest, not a current mutable project read.

## Field reference

| Field | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| `case_id`, `dataset_record_id` | Required issued identities |
| `created_at` | Required creation timestamp |
| `updated_at` | Update timestamp when returned |
| `content` | Canonical content object or null |
| `content_schema_version` | `dataset_record.content.v1` or null |
| `content_search_text` | Derived search representation or null |
| `legacy_metadata` | Compatibility projection |
| `latest_version` | Available reference-output and trajectory context |

See `CaseRecord` and `DatasetRecordContent` in the [OpenAPI](https://api.teammately.ai/v1/openapi.yaml) for nested fields. Optional values remain absent or null as returned.

## Frozen evaluation membership

`GET /case-manifest` returns `data.manifest` beneath the selected Benchmark Version. Members carry `case_id`, `benchmark_version_case_id`, `dataset_record_version_id` and `content`. Preserve the exact frozen membership when generating results.
## Related reference pages

{% related-card-grid title="Related reference pages" %}
- [Cases API](/docs/public-api/cases)
- [Submit External Evaluation Outputs](/docs/public-api/evaluation-outputs)
- [Project Input Schema](/docs/project-settings/input-schema)
{% /related-card-grid %}