---
title: "Create Custom Attributes"
slug: "create-custom-attributes"
status: "update"
updated: 2026-07-31T14:26:21Z
published: 2026-07-31T14:26:21Z
canonical: "docs.mapp.com/create-custom-attributes"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mapp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create Custom Attributes

## Goal

To create a custom attribute.

---

## Background Information

Custom profile attributes allow you to store specific data about contacts, enabling tailored digital marketing strategies. These attributes are flexible and can store relevant information, such as household size, income bracket, or education level. They can also track message activity, conversion data, and more.

Attributes can be system-wide or limited to specific channels, with customizable data types and enumerations for added functionality. For more details, see [Profile Attributes](/v1/docs/profile-attributes).

---

## Procedure (manual)

Create a Custom Attribute in the System Interface

1. Navigate to *Administration > Attributes > Profile Attributes*.
2. Click **Create new Attribute.**
3. In the **Name** field, enter a unique name for the custom attribute.

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> - Attribute names must be unique and are not case-sensitive.
> - Avoid spaces and special characters to prevent data import issues. Use only ASCII characters.
> - Names can have a maximum length of 80 characters.
4. Select the **Data Type** from the drop-down list (e.g., String, Boolean, Number, Date).
5. If the attribute is channel-specific, enable the **Channels** toggle and select the applicable channels. Leave it disabled for system-wide availability.
6. Enable the **Enumeration** toggle if enumeration is needed. For details, visit [Attribute Enumeration Management](/v1/docs/attribute-enumeration-management).
7. Click **Save & Close**. When the attribute is successfully created, the system will send an email confirmation to the user.

---

## Using Imports to Create Custom Attributes

In Mapp Engage, you can also create custom attributes by importing correctly formatted CSV or XML files. When a custom attribute referenced in the import does not yet exist, it is created automatically; if it already exists, the imported values are added to it.

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> - You need **Permission 236 - Data Import and Export** to add new attribute metadata through an import.
> - In a CSV file, custom attribute columns use the header prefix `user.CustomAttribute.X` (replace `X` with the attribute name).

For the exact file layout and sample structures, see [CSV Format for Contact Imports](/v1/docs/csv-format-for-contact-imports) and [XML Format for Contact Imports](/v1/docs/xml-format-for-contact-imports). For the import procedure, see [Importing Contacts](/v1/docs/import-contacts).

## Related

- [Update Custom User Attributes in Engage Using the Intelligence Pixel](/update-custom-user-attributes-in-engage-using-the-intelligence-pixel.md)