---
updatedAt: 2026-06-18T18:55:55.000Z
agentTools:
  projectIndex: https://docs.checkhq.com/llms.txt
---

# The communication object

The Communications API records all Check-owned communications with an end user across various communication methods (email, text, etc.).

Communications can be created by Check through our [Direct To Employer Communications](https://support.checkhq.com/hc/en-us/articles/21895259763479-Direct-to-Employer-Communications) offering, or can be triggered automatically by Check's [notifications](https://docs.checkhq.com/reference/the-notification-object) system.

```json Sample communication object
{
      "id": "cmn_MrFrw0F82NSJjyw10Erk",
      "company": "com_zH8Gq33iBkFj5o0GKjTw",
      "recipient_type": "company_email",
      "recipient": "com_zH8Gq33iBkFj5o0GKjTw",
      "type": "email",
      "originator": "check",
      "email": {
        "to": [
          "example@gmail.com"
        ],
        "from": "support@checkhq.zendesk.com",
        "cc": [
          "payroll-support@partner.co"
        ],
        "reply_to": "support@checkhq.zendesk.com",
        "subject": "Check <> Example Coffee",
        "no_reply": false
      },
      "notification": null,
      "created_at": "2024-01-19 17:04:15+00"
}
```
```json Sample communication object with notification
{
      "id": "cmn_MrFrw0F82NSJjyw10Erk",
      "company": "com_zH8Gq33iBkFj5o0GKjTw",
      "recipient_type": "company_email",
      "recipient": "com_zH8Gq33iBkFj5o0GKjTw",
      "type": "email",
      "originator": "check",
      "email": {
        "to": [
          "example@gmail.com"
        ],
        "from": "support@checkhq.zendesk.com",
        "cc": [
          "payroll-support@partner.co"
        ],
        "reply_to": "support@checkhq.zendesk.com",
        "subject": "Check <> Example Coffee",
        "no_reply": false
      },
      "notification": {
        "id": "ntf_oQkuvGaD5xJmZXphKySd",
        "topic": "ready_for_payroll"
      },
      "created_at": "2024-01-19 17:04:15+00"
}
```

<Table align={["left","left"]}>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>
        Attribute
      </th>

      <th>
        Description
      </th>
    </tr>
  </thead>

  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>
        `id`  
        _string_
      </td>

      <td>
        Unique identifier of the communication.
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        `company`  
        _string_
      </td>

      <td>
        ID of the company that this communication relates to.
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        `recipient_type`  
        _enum_
      </td>

      <td>
        Type of communication recipient. Can be `company_email`, `employee_email`, `contractor_email`.
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        `recipient`  
        _string_
      </td>

      <td>
        ID of the intended recipient of the communication
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        `type`  
        _string_
      </td>

      <td>
        Type of communication. Can be `email` or `text`.
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        `originator`  
        _string_
      </td>

      <td>
        Party that originated the message. Can be `check` or `company`.
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        `email`  
        _[email](https://docs.checkhq.com/reference/communications-email) object_
      </td>

      <td>
        Metadata about the email type, recipients, and senders, if applicable.
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        `notification`  
        _object_
      </td>

      <td>
        Metadata about the associated `Notification` (if it exists).
      </td>
    </tr>

    <tr>
      <td>
        `created_at`  
        _string_
      </td>

      <td>
        The time when the communication was created.
      </td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</Table>