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Kombo’s unified models cover the fields that are standard across HR and ATS systems. When your product needs additional data, Kombo offers several ways to go beyond the unified model — each suited to a different scenario.

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Custom Fields — Unified Extra Data (Reads)

The most common option. Custom fields let you define your own field keys (e.g., t_shirt_size) and map them to the corresponding field in each connected integration. Values are returned as part of the unified API response in a custom_fields object, so your code stays integration-agnostic. Custom fields can be mapped via the dashboard, through automatic mapping rules that match on field keys, or through the self-serve setup flow where your end customers map them during onboarding. Use the Custom Field Explorer to discover available fields from the remote tool in real-time without waiting for a sync.

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Remote Fields — Extra Data on Writes

When a write action (e.g., creating a candidate) requires tool-specific data that isn’t part of the unified request body, remote fields let you pass it alongside the unified payload. Each tool has its own remote_fields schema documented on the relevant write endpoint.

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Field Remapping — Override Default Mappings

Remapping lets you override how Kombo maps specific unified fields. For example, you can change which source field populates job_title for a particular integration, or remap enum values. This is useful when an integration’s default mapping doesn’t match how your customer has configured their system.

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Passthrough API — Full Native API Access

For use cases that go beyond field-level customization, the Passthrough API lets you call the underlying tool’s native API directly, with Kombo handling authentication. This gives you access to any endpoint the tool offers — reading resources Kombo doesn’t model, calling custom actions, or accessing tool-specific configuration.

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Choosing the Right Approach