---
title: "Teams Management"
description: "Learn how to implement team functionality in your Python application using Stack Auth's REST API"
---

After setting up your [Stack Auth helper function](../getting-started/setup.mdx), you can implement comprehensive team functionality in your Python application.

## Team Management

Stack Auth provides full team management capabilities including:
- **Team Creation & Management** - Create and update teams with metadata
- **Team Memberships** - Add and remove users from teams  
- **Team Invitations** - Send email invitations to join teams
- **Team Permissions** - Control what team members can do
- **Team Profiles** - Manage user profiles within team context

### Creating a Team

To create a new team:

```python
def create_team(access_token, display_name, creator_user_id=None):
    """
    Create a new team
    Returns the created team data
    """
    body = {
        'display_name': display_name
    }
    
    # Optionally specify a creator (only on server)
    if creator_user_id:
        body['creator_user_id'] = creator_user_id
    
    response = stack_auth_request('POST', 'api/v1/teams', 
        headers={'x-stack-access-token': access_token},
        json=body
    )
    
    return {
        'id': response['id'],
        'display_name': response['display_name'],
        'profile_image_url': response['profile_image_url'],
        'client_metadata': response['client_metadata'],
        'client_read_only_metadata': response['client_read_only_metadata'],
        'created_at_millis': response.get('created_at_millis')  # Server only
    }

# Example usage
team_data = create_team(
    access_token=access_token,
    display_name="Engineering Team"
)
team_id = team_data['id']
print(f"Created team: {team_data['display_name']}")
```

### Listing Teams

Get all teams for the current user:

```python
def list_user_teams(access_token):
    """
    List all teams that the current user is a member of
    """
    response = stack_auth_request('GET', 'api/v1/teams?user_id=me',
        headers={'x-stack-access-token': access_token}
    )
    
    return response['items']

def list_all_teams():
    """
    List all teams in the project (server access only)
    """
    response = stack_auth_request('GET', 'api/v1/teams')
    return response['items']

# Example usage
user_teams = list_user_teams(access_token)
print(f"User is member of {len(user_teams)} teams")

# Server-side: list all teams
all_teams = list_all_teams()
print(f"Total teams in project: {len(all_teams)}")
```

### Getting Team Information

Retrieve details about a specific team:

```python
def get_team(access_token, team_id):
    """
    Get information about a specific team
    """
    response = stack_auth_request('GET', f'api/v1/teams/{team_id}',
        headers={'x-stack-access-token': access_token}
    )
    
    return {
        'id': response['id'],
        'display_name': response['display_name'],
        'profile_image_url': response['profile_image_url'],
        'client_metadata': response['client_metadata'],
        'client_read_only_metadata': response['client_read_only_metadata']
    }

# Example usage
team_info = get_team(access_token, team_id)
print(f"Team: {team_info['display_name']}")
```

### Updating Team Information

Update team details (requires `$update_team` permission):

```python
def update_team(access_token, team_id, **updates):
    """
    Update team information
    Requires $update_team permission
    """
    # Filter out None values
    body = {k: v for k, v in updates.items() if v is not None}
    
    response = stack_auth_request('PATCH', f'api/v1/teams/{team_id}',
        headers={'x-stack-access-token': access_token},
        json=body
    )
    
    return response

# Example usage
updated_team = update_team(
    access_token=access_token,
    team_id=team_id,
    display_name="Updated Engineering Team",
    profile_image_url="https://example.com/team-logo.png",
    client_metadata={
        "department": "Engineering",
        "location": "San Francisco"
    }
)
```

## Team Membership Management

### Adding Members to a Team

Add users to a team (server access required):

```python
def add_team_member(team_id, user_id):
    """
    Add a user to a team (server access only)
    """
    response = stack_auth_request('POST', f'api/v1/team-memberships/{team_id}/{user_id}',
        json={}
    )
    return response

# Example usage
add_team_member(team_id, user_id)
print(f"Added user {user_id} to team {team_id}")
```

### Removing Members from a Team

Remove users from a team (requires `$remove_members` permission):

```python
def remove_team_member(access_token, team_id, user_id):
    """
    Remove a user from a team
    Requires $remove_members permission
    """
    stack_auth_request('DELETE', f'api/v1/team-memberships/{team_id}/{user_id}',
        headers={'x-stack-access-token': access_token}
    )

# Example usage
remove_team_member(access_token, team_id, user_id)
print(f"Removed user {user_id} from team {team_id}")
```

### Getting Team Members

List all members of a team:

```python
def get_team_members(access_token, team_id):
    """
    Get all members of a team with their profiles
    Requires $read_members permission
    """
    response = stack_auth_request('GET', f'api/v1/team-member-profiles?team_id={team_id}',
        headers={'x-stack-access-token': access_token}
    )
    
    return response['items']

# Example usage
members = get_team_members(access_token, team_id)
for member in members:
    print(f"Member: {member['display_name']} ({member['user_id']})")
```

## Team Invitations

### Sending Team Invitations

Invite users to join a team via email:

```python
def send_team_invitation(access_token, team_id, email, callback_url):
    """
    Send an invitation to join a team
    Requires $invite_members permission
    """
    response = stack_auth_request('POST', 'api/v1/team-invitations/send-code',
        headers={'x-stack-access-token': access_token},
        json={
            'email': email,
            'team_id': team_id,
            'callback_url': callback_url
        }
    )
    
    return {
        'success': response['success'],
        'invitation_id': response['id']
    }

# Example usage
invitation_result = send_team_invitation(
    access_token=access_token,
    team_id=team_id,
    email="newmember@example.com",
    callback_url="https://yourapp.com/join-team"
)
print(f"Invitation sent: {invitation_result['invitation_id']}")
```

### Accepting Team Invitations

Complete the invitation process when a user clicks the invitation link:

```python
def accept_team_invitation(code):
    """
    Accept a team invitation using the code from the invitation email
    """
    response = stack_auth_request('POST', 'api/v1/team-invitations/accept',
        json={'code': code}
    )
    
    return response

# Example usage (when user clicks invitation link)
accept_team_invitation(invitation_code)
print("User successfully joined the team!")
```

### Listing Team Invitations

Get pending invitations for a team:

```python
def list_team_invitations(access_token, team_id):
    """
    List pending invitations for a team
    Requires $invite_members permission
    """
    response = stack_auth_request('GET', f'api/v1/team-invitations?team_id={team_id}',
        headers={'x-stack-access-token': access_token}
    )
    
    return response['items']

# Example usage
invitations = list_team_invitations(access_token, team_id)
for invitation in invitations:
    print(f"Pending invitation for: {invitation['recipient_email']}")
```

## Team Permissions Management

### Granting Team Permissions

Give specific permissions to team members:

```python
def grant_team_permission(team_id, user_id, permission_id):
    """
    Grant a permission to a user in a team (server access only)
    """
    response = stack_auth_request('POST', f'api/v1/team-permissions/{team_id}/{user_id}/{permission_id}',
        json={}
    )
    return response

# Example usage
grant_team_permission(team_id, user_id, "$update_team")
grant_team_permission(team_id, user_id, "$invite_members")
print(f"Granted permissions to user {user_id}")
```

### Revoking Team Permissions

Remove permissions from team members:

```python
def revoke_team_permission(team_id, user_id, permission_id):
    """
    Revoke a permission from a user in a team (server access only)
    """
    stack_auth_request('DELETE', f'api/v1/team-permissions/{team_id}/{user_id}/{permission_id}')

# Example usage
revoke_team_permission(team_id, user_id, "$update_team")
print(f"Revoked permission from user {user_id}")
```

### Checking Team Permissions

Check if a user has specific permissions in a team:

```python
def check_team_permission(access_token, team_id, user_id, permission_id):
    """
    Check if a user has a specific permission in a team
    """
    try:
        response = stack_auth_request('GET', f'api/v1/team-permissions/{team_id}/{user_id}/{permission_id}',
            headers={'x-stack-access-token': access_token}
        )
        return True
    except Exception as e:
        if "TEAM_PERMISSION_NOT_FOUND" in str(e):
            return False
        raise e

# Example usage
can_update = check_team_permission(access_token, team_id, user_id, "$update_team")
if can_update:
    print("User can update the team")
else:
    print("User cannot update the team")
```

### Listing User Permissions

Get all permissions a user has in a team:

```python
def list_user_team_permissions(access_token, team_id, user_id="me"):
    """
    List all permissions a user has in a team
    """
    response = stack_auth_request('GET', f'api/v1/team-permissions/{team_id}/{user_id}',
        headers={'x-stack-access-token': access_token}
    )
    
    return response['items']

# Example usage
permissions = list_user_team_permissions(access_token, team_id)
permission_ids = [p['id'] for p in permissions]
print(f"User permissions: {permission_ids}")
```

## Team Member Profiles

### Managing Team Member Profiles

Users can have different display names and profile information within each team:

```python
def update_team_member_profile(access_token, team_id, user_id="me", **profile_data):
    """
    Update a user's profile within a team context
    """
    response = stack_auth_request('PATCH', f'api/v1/team-member-profiles/{team_id}/{user_id}',
        headers={'x-stack-access-token': access_token},
        json=profile_data
    )
    
    return response

def get_team_member_profile(access_token, team_id, user_id="me"):
    """
    Get a user's profile within a team context
    """
    response = stack_auth_request('GET', f'api/v1/team-member-profiles/{team_id}/{user_id}',
        headers={'x-stack-access-token': access_token}
    )
    
    return response

# Example usage
# Update current user's profile in the team
updated_profile = update_team_member_profile(
    access_token=access_token,
    team_id=team_id,
    display_name="John Doe (Engineering Lead)",
    profile_image_url="https://example.com/john-avatar.png"
)

# Get the updated profile
profile = get_team_member_profile(access_token, team_id)
print(f"Team profile: {profile['display_name']}")
```

### Deleting Teams

Remove a team entirely (requires `$delete_team` permission):

```python
def delete_team(access_token, team_id):
    """
    Delete a team (requires $delete_team permission)
    """
    response = stack_auth_request('DELETE', f'api/v1/teams/{team_id}',
        headers={'x-stack-access-token': access_token}
    )
    return response

# Example usage
delete_team(access_token, team_id)
print(f"Team {team_id} deleted successfully")
```

## Complete Team Management Example

Here's a comprehensive example that demonstrates a full team management workflow:

```python
import os
import requests

# Setup (from setup guide)
stack_project_id = os.getenv("STACK_PROJECT_ID")
stack_publishable_client_key = os.getenv("STACK_PUBLISHABLE_CLIENT_KEY")
stack_secret_server_key = os.getenv("STACK_SECRET_SERVER_KEY")

def stack_auth_request(method, endpoint, **kwargs):
    res = requests.request(
        method,
        f'https://api.stack-auth.com/{endpoint}',
        headers={
            'x-stack-access-type': 'server',  # or 'client' if you're only accessing the client API
            'x-stack-project-id': stack_project_id,
            'x-stack-publishable-client-key': stack_publishable_client_key,
            'x-stack-secret-server-key': stack_secret_server_key,  # not necessary if access type is 'client'
            **kwargs.pop('headers', {}),
        },
        **kwargs,
    )
    if res.status_code >= 400:
        raise Exception(f"Stack Auth API request failed with {res.status_code}: {res.text}")
    return res.json()

class TeamManager:
    def __init__(self, access_token):
        self.access_token = access_token
    
    def create_and_setup_team(self, name, member_emails):
        """Create a team and invite members"""
        # Create the team
        team = create_team(self.access_token, name)
        team_id = team['id']
        
        print(f"Created team: {name} (ID: {team_id})")
        
        # Send invitations to members
        invitation_results = []
        for email in member_emails:
            try:
                result = send_team_invitation(
                    self.access_token,
                    team_id,
                    email,
                    "https://yourapp.com/join-team"
                )
                invitation_results.append((email, result['invitation_id']))
                print(f"Invited {email}")
            except Exception as e:
                print(f"Failed to invite {email}: {e}")
        
        return team, invitation_results
    
    def manage_team_permissions(self, team_id, admin_user_ids):
        """Grant admin permissions to specific users"""
        admin_permissions = ["$update_team", "$invite_members", "$remove_members"]
        
        for user_id in admin_user_ids:
            for permission in admin_permissions:
                try:
                    grant_team_permission(team_id, user_id, permission)
                    print(f"Granted {permission} to {user_id}")
                except Exception as e:
                    print(f"Failed to grant {permission} to {user_id}: {e}")
    
    def get_team_overview(self, team_id):
        """Get complete team information"""
        # Get team details
        team_info = get_team(self.access_token, team_id)
        
        # Get team members
        try:
            members = get_team_members(self.access_token, team_id)
        except Exception:
            members = []  # User might not have read_members permission
        
        # Get pending invitations
        try:
            invitations = list_team_invitations(self.access_token, team_id)
        except Exception:
            invitations = []  # User might not have invite_members permission
        
        return {
            'team': team_info,
            'members': members,
            'pending_invitations': invitations
        }

# Example usage
team_manager = TeamManager(access_token)

# Create a new team with initial members
team, invitations = team_manager.create_and_setup_team(
    name="Product Team",
    member_emails=["alice@example.com", "bob@example.com", "charlie@example.com"]
)

# Make some users team admins (server-side operation)
admin_users = ["user-id-1", "user-id-2"]
team_manager.manage_team_permissions(team['id'], admin_users)

# Get team overview
overview = team_manager.get_team_overview(team['id'])
print(f"\nTeam Overview:")
print(f"Name: {overview['team']['display_name']}")
print(f"Members: {len(overview['members'])}")
print(f"Pending Invitations: {len(overview['pending_invitations'])}")
```

## Error Handling

Common team-related errors you might encounter:

```python
def handle_team_errors(func):
    """Decorator to handle common team operation errors"""
    def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
        try:
            return func(*args, **kwargs)
        except Exception as e:
            error_message = str(e)
            
            if "TEAM_PERMISSION_REQUIRED" in error_message:
                print("Insufficient permissions for this team operation")
            elif "TEAM_MEMBERSHIP_NOT_FOUND" in error_message:
                print("User is not a member of this team")
            elif "TEAM_NOT_FOUND" in error_message:
                print("Team not found")
            elif "TEAM_MEMBERSHIP_ALREADY_EXISTS" in error_message:
                print("User is already a member of this team")
            elif "USER_NOT_FOUND" in error_message:
                print("User not found")
            else:
                print(f"Team operation error: {error_message}")
            
            raise e
    return wrapper

@handle_team_errors
def safe_add_member(team_id, user_id):
    return add_team_member(team_id, user_id)

@handle_team_errors
def safe_send_invitation(access_token, team_id, email, callback_url):
    return send_team_invitation(access_token, team_id, email, callback_url)
```

## Common Team Permission IDs

Stack Auth includes several built-in team permissions:

- **`$update_team`** - Edit team information and metadata
- **`$delete_team`** - Delete the entire team
- **`$invite_members`** - Send invitations to new members
- **`$remove_members`** - Remove members from the team
- **`$read_members`** - View team member list
- **`team_member`** - Basic team membership (automatically granted)

For more advanced team features, check out the [REST API documentation](../rest-api/overview.mdx).