generated: '2026-07-18'
method: searched
source: https://docs.backstit.ch/api/
format: message-string
envelope:
  note: >-
    Errors are returned as human-readable message strings (and per-item `errors`
    arrays on batch source/filter operations). backstitch does not publish an
    RFC 9457 problem+json contract or numeric error codes; the values below are the
    documented error messages captured verbatim from the API reference.
  batch_errors_field: errors
errors:
- message: Invalid organization API Key
  cause: The supplied Organization Key does not match a known organization.
  operations: [create-topic, update-sources, update-filters, delete-topic, custom-source]
- message: Invalid topic
  cause: The supplied topic token does not resolve to an existing topic.
  operations: [read-topic, update-sources, update-filters, delete-topic, clone-topic]
- message: Missing name
  cause: A topic was created without the required `name` parameter.
  operations: [create-topic]
- message: Invalid permission
  cause: The `permission` value was not one of `private` or `public`.
  operations: [create-topic]
- message: Invalid filter-type
  cause: The filter `type` was not one of `include`, `exclude`, or `nsfw`.
  operations: [create-topic, update-filters]
- message: Invalid service
  cause: The requested source `service` is not a supported backstitch service.
  operations: [create-topic, update-sources]
- message: Service not authorized
  cause: The source service requires a linked account that is not connected.
  operations: [update-sources]
- message: Source already added
  cause: The source (service + value) already exists on the topic.
  operations: [update-sources]
- message: Filter already added
  cause: The filter (type + phrase) already exists on the topic.
  operations: [update-filters]
- message: No such filter
  cause: A delete referenced a filter that is not present on the topic.
  operations: [delete-filters]
- message: Invalid topic to clone
  cause: A referenced topic token in `topic_tokens` could not be cloned.
  operations: [create-topic, clone-topic]
- message: Add-on not activated
  cause: The requested capability requires an add-on that is not enabled on the topic.
  operations: [read-topic]