Using External integrations for personalization integrations-personalization

When type is json, the content field is a JSON string. Parse it before you access nested fields. The example below shows a typical Delivery API response for a JSON mbox.

{
  "status": 200,
  "prefetch": {
    "mboxes": [
      {
        "index": 0,
        "name": "SummerOffer",
        "options": {
          "content": "{\"recommendations\":[{\"productId\":\"p101\",\"name\":\"Noise Smartwatch\",\"price\":2999},{\"productId\":\"p205\",\"name\":\"Boat Earbuds\",\"price\":1499}],\"strategy\":\"collaborative-filtering\"}",
          "type": "json"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Use three helpers in sequence to fetch, extract, and parse the Target response.

1. Fetch the Target response. Call your configured Target integration with externalDataLookup. Set integrationName to the Name of that integration (replace the example placeholder target_recommendations). Use the result parameter to name the template variable that holds the full Delivery API payload—for example, targetResponse.

   You can also select the integration directly from the Integrations menu in the left navigation of the personalization editor. See Apply integration personalization to your content.

   code language-handlebars
   {{externalDataLookup integrationName="target_recommendations" result="targetResponse"}}

2. Extract a specific mbox using valueAtPath. valueAtPath extracts an element from an array by its 0-based index and assigns it to a template variable. Use the idx parameter to specify which element to access.

   code language-handlebars
   {{valueAtPath targetResponse.prefetch.mboxes idx=0 result="summerOffer"}}

   table 0-row-2 1-row-2 2-row-2 3-row-2
   Parameter	Description
   path	Path to the array (positional, no keyword)
   idx	0-based index for array access (optional)
   result	Variable name to store the extracted value

   note
   NOTE
   If idx is out of bounds, rendering throws an exception. Guard invalid indexes with {%#if idx >= 0 and idx < count(targetResponse.prefetch.mboxes)%} when the index may be invalid. PQL expressions cannot be used as the path. Available since release 2025.9.0.

3. Parse the JSON string using parseJson. The mbox options.content field is a raw JSON string. parseJson converts it into a structured object whose fields can then be accessed directly in the template.

   code language-handlebars
   {{parseJson jsonStr=summerOffer.options.content result="summerOfferContent"}}

   table 0-row-2 1-row-2 2-row-2
   Parameter	Description
   jsonStr	Path to the string field containing valid JSON
   result	Variable name to store the parsed object

   note
   NOTE
   If the JSON string is invalid or the reference is null, result is set to null — no rendering error is thrown. Test with your actual Target response to confirm the content is valid JSON. Available since: 2026.6.0

4. Access the data. Once parsed, use dot notation to access fields from summerOfferContent. To render a list of recommendations:

   code language-handlebars
   {{externalDataLookup integrationName="target_recommendations" result="targetResponse"}} {{valueAtPath targetResponse.prefetch.mboxes idx=0 result="summerOffer"}} {{parseJson jsonStr=summerOffer.options.content result="summerOfferContent"}} Strategy: {{summerOfferContent.strategy}} {{#each summerOfferContent.recommendations as |rec|}} {{rec.name}} — {{rec.price}} {{/each}}

When type is html, the content field is a ready-to-render HTML string. You do not need to parse it. The example below shows a typical Delivery API response for an HTML mbox.

{
  "status": 200,
  "prefetch": {
    "mboxes": [
      {
        "index": 0,
        "name": "SummerOffer",
        "options": {
          "content": "<div class=\"offer\"><h2>Summer Sale</h2><p>50% off Smartwatch</p></div>",
          "type": "html"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Fetch and extract the mbox, then render content directly. Skip parseJson.

{{externalDataLookup integrationName="target_recommendations" result="targetResponse"}}
{{valueAtPath targetResponse.prefetch.mboxes idx=0 result="summerOffer"}}
{{{summerOffer.options.content}}}