# About ship options

You may optionally specify a `shipOption` parameter when constructing a shipment, using either the more popular [Carrier and Method Selection & Shipment Label API](https://docs.shipium.com/docs/carrier-and-method-selection-and-shipment-label-api) or the [Carrier and Method Selection API](https://docs.shipium.com/docs/carrier-and-method-selection-api).

Doing this gives you the ability to specify the kind of shipment performance that you want. Shipium's software will select the appropriate carrier and method based on this shipment performance criterion.

# Specify ship option

To specify a ship option, include a value for it in the `shipOption` field that is part of the top-level Shipment object. You can do this either during shipment creation or in `shipmentParameters` when using the Carrier and Method Selection & Shipment Label method.

> 🚧
> ### Warning
> This does not guarantee that some specific method is selected, but rather that an _appropriate_ method is selected to meet the requirements specified.

The following example works for either use case, specifying that the shipment should use a "TwoDay" ship option:

```json
{
    "shipOption": "TwoDay"
}
```

# Ship option values

You can specify your organization's configured `shipOption` values in the API call, or you can use one of Shipium's default `shipOption` values.

For guidance on configuring your own ship options, see [Configurable Ship Options](https://docs.shipium.com/docs/configurable-ship-options).

To use Shipium's `shipOption` values, see [Shipium Default Ship Options](https://docs.shipium.com/docs/shipium-default-ship-options).

# FAQ

**Q:** What happens if an option is not available?

**A:** If a particular `shipOption` value is not possible, a 4XX error from either label creation or the all-in-one shipment and label method will give details about the problem.

**Q:** Can I include a desired delivery date (DDD) in addition to passing a ship option when using the all-in-one shipment and label method?

**A:** Yes. For example, `shipOption`: `standard`, `desiredDeliveryDate`: `2023-11-15` limits the carrier selection search to only those methods that are marked as standard _and_ for which the DDD of 2023-11-15 can be met. If the DDD of 2023-11-15 cannot be met, Shipium will return the cheapest service method on 2023-11-16, and so on.

# Resources

Your Shipium team member is available to help along the way. However, you might find these resources helpful:

- [Terms and Definitions](https://docs.shipium.com/docs/common-terms)
- [Troubleshooting Guide](https://docs.shipium.com/docs/troubleshooting-guide)
- [Contact Shipium Support](https://docs.shipium.com/docs/contacting-shipium-support)