---
title: MessageSender - Partner API
description: A union of all of the types that can send messages within a conversation.
api_version: 2025-10
api_name: partner
type: union
api_type: graphql
source_url:
  html: 'https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/unions/MessageSender'
  md: 'https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/unions/MessageSender.md'
---

# Message​Sender

union

A union of all of the types that can send messages within a conversation.

## Possible types

* [Merchant​User](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/objects/MerchantUser)

  OBJECT

  A merchant account. This might be a shop owner, a staff member, or a user that isn't associated with a shop. A single merchant account can be associated with many shops.

  * avatar​Url

    [Url](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/Url)

    A URL referencing the avatar associated with the actor.

  * id

    [ID!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/ID)

    non-null

    A globally unique identifier for the actor. Example value: `gid://partners/Shop/1234`.

  * name

    [String!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/String)

    non-null

    The user's full name.

  * timezone

    [String!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/String)

    non-null

    The user's time zone.

* [Organization](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/objects/Organization)

  OBJECT

  A Partner organization.

  * avatar​Url

    [Url](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/Url)

    A URL referencing the avatar associated with the actor.

  * id

    [ID!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/ID)

    non-null

    A globally unique identifier for the actor. Example value: `gid://partners/Shop/1234`.

  * name

    [String!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/String)

    non-null

    The name of the actor. This might be a Partner organization or shop name.

* [Shop](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/objects/Shop)

  OBJECT

  A Shopify shop.

  * avatar​Url

    [Url](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/Url)

    A URL referencing the avatar associated with the actor.

  * id

    [ID!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/ID)

    non-null

    A globally unique identifier for the actor. Example value: `gid://partners/Shop/1234`.

  * myshopify​Domain

    [Url!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/Url)

    non-null

    The shop's `.myshopify.com` domain name.

  * name

    [String!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/String)

    non-null

    The name of the actor. This might be a Partner organization or shop name.

* [Shopify​Employee](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/objects/ShopifyEmployee)

  OBJECT

  A Shopify employee.

  * avatar​Url

    [Url](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/Url)

    A URL referencing the avatar associated with the actor.

  * id

    [ID!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/ID)

    non-null

    A globally unique identifier for the actor. Example value: `gid://partners/Shop/1234`.

  * name

    [String!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/String)

    non-null

    The Shopify employee's full name.

* [Team​Member](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/objects/TeamMember)

  OBJECT

  An owner or staff member of the Partner Organization.

  * avatar​Url

    [Url](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/Url)

    A URL referencing the avatar associated with the actor.

  * id

    [ID!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/ID)

    non-null

    A globally unique identifier for the actor. Example value: `gid://partners/Shop/1234`.

  * name

    [String!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/scalars/String)

    non-null

    The team member's full name.

***

## Fields with this union

* [Message.sentBy](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/partner/latest/objects/Message#field-Message.fields.sentBy)

  OBJECT

  A message exchanged within a conversation.

***

```graphql
union MessageSender = MerchantUser | Organization | Shop | ShopifyEmployee | TeamMember
```