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

# participant.added

> Read the participant.added data payload and its fields.

`participant.added` fires when a contact joins a group chat your agent is in.

## Read the payload

The `data` object is the `ParticipantAddedEvent` schema from the API contract. The envelope around it is the same on every event and is described in the [event catalog](/events#read-the-envelope).

| Field         | Meaning                                                 |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| `chat_id`     | Group chat ID                                           |
| `participant` | The added contact's handle, including membership status |
| `added_at`    | When the contact joined                                 |

## Handle the event

Add the handle to your stored membership for `chat_id`. A joining participant sees earlier history only when the chat allows it, as described under [participants](/chats/participants), so do not assume they have context from before `added_at`.

## Next steps

* [Manage participants](/chats/participants)
* [Read the participant.removed event](/events/participant-removed)
* [Choose an event type](/events)