Move a work item
/v1/work-items/{item}/status in the Work Items API.
curl -X POST https://api.example.test/v1/work-items/$ITEM_ID/status \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \ -H "Idempotency-Key: $(uuidgen)" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"status": "cancelled", "resolution": "duplicate"}'Moves the item along its lifecycle. From the backlog an item goes to ready, in_progress or cancelled; from ready back to the backlog, on to in_progress or to cancelled; from in progress to ready, in_review, in_qa, done or cancelled; from in review to in_progress, in_qa, done or cancelled; from in QA to in_progress, done or cancelled; a done item may be reopened to in_progress; a cancelled one goes back to the backlog. A move into done carries the resolution done; a move into cancelled carries wont_do (the default), duplicate, cannot_reproduce or deferred; a move into an open status clears the resolution. The first move into progress stamps started_at, a move into done stamps completed_at, and the move writes a version with the reason transition.
Answers 200 with the item and emits work_item.transitioned with the status before and after and the resolution; a move to the status the item is in already answers 200 and emits nothing.
Requires ability
The token must hold this ability, or the call is refused with 403.
Fires one event
Delivered to every endpoint subscribed to it once the change is made.
MCP tool
Runs the same action from an agent, behind the same ability.
Idempotent
Send the header on every call; the same key replays the original response for 24 hours.
Authorization
bearerToken A personal access token minted in the app under Account Settings, then API Tokens, sent as Authorization: Bearer zg_live_…. The token carries the abilities each endpoint lists under Requires ability and is frozen to one team, and optionally to one project, at mint time.
In: header
Path Parameters
The item, bound by the middleware.
uuidHeader Parameters
A key unique to this operation, such as a fresh UUID. The same key replays the original 2xx response for 24 hours (with Idempotent-Replay: true), so a retry after a timeout never repeats the write; the same key with a different body is refused with 409.
uuidRequest body
JSONWhat the request carriesRequiredapplication/json
The status to move the work item to, with the resolution a close carries.
Responses
200OKapplication/json
The item, moved.
400Bad requestIDEMPOTENCY_KEY_MISSINGapplication/json
Every write needs an Idempotency-Key header. Send a fresh UUID per distinct operation.
401UnauthorizedAUTHENTICATION_REQUIREDapplication/json
The request carries no bearer token, or one that is revoked, malformed, or minted for another environment (a zg_test_ token on production).
403ForbiddenTOKEN_MISSING_ABILITYapplication/json
The token is valid but does not carry the ability this endpoint requires; error.context.required_ability names the one to grant. An endpoint that also checks who registered a row answers FORBIDDEN with the same status, and says so in its own description.
On this endpoint: FORBIDDEN: when the token holder's role on the project does not carry work-item:transition.
404Not foundRESOURCE_NOT_FOUNDapplication/json
An id in the path names nothing the token can see. TENANT_MISMATCH: the project sits outside the token's scope:project: allow-list, or the token carries no team scope. Both answer 404 rather than 403 so that existence outside the token's scope cannot be inferred.
409ConflictIDEMPOTENCY_KEY_REUSEDapplication/json
The key was already used in the last 24 hours with a different request body.
422Validation failedVALIDATION_FAILEDapplication/json
The payload broke a rule, and error.fields maps each offending key to its messages. A refusal from the domain, such as a role code already taken or a team the caller does not own, uses the same code with error.message saying why and no fields.
On this endpoint: VALIDATION_FAILED: when status is missing or unknown, when the lifecycle refuses the move, or when the resolution does not fit the status.
425Too earlyIDEMPOTENCY_REPLAY_IN_PROGRESSapplication/json
The first request with this key is still running; retry in a few seconds and the original response is replayed.
429Too many requestsRATE_LIMITEDapplication/json
The token has spent its 300 requests a minute or 10,000 an hour; Retry-After says when the next one is accepted.
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