What is WhatsApp for Business API?
The WhatsApp Business API is Meta’s specialized API for WhatsApp which allows medium and large businesses to communicate with their customers at scale. Using this API, businesses can build systems that connect thousands of customers with agents or bots, enabling both programmatic and manual communication. Additionally, you can integrate the API with numerous backend systems, such as CRM and marketing platforms.
Conversations on WhatsApp
There are two ways to start a conversation on WhatsApp:
- Your customer sends the initial message to you.
- Your customer responds to your templated message.
Once a conversation starts, there is a 24-hour window for sending any message content.
Types of WhatsApp Messages
WhatsApp supports Messaging using these messaging types:
| Feature | Remarks |
|---|---|
| Text messages | The maximum length of a WhatsApp message is 4096 characters and it must be UTF-8 encoded. |
| Media Messages | Media name attribute should end in the proper file extension. Only one media file is allowed per message. When the linked media doesn't exist/can't be found, the message will not be sent at all. |
| Media Messages: images | Maximum file size for an uploaded image is 5 MB. Supported formats: png, jpeg. |
| Media Messages: audio | Maximum file size for an uploaded audio file is 16 MB. Supported formats: ACC, M4A, MP3, AMR, OGG-OPUS. |
| Media Messages: video | Maximum file size for an uploaded video file is 16 MB. Supported formats: mpeg4. |
| Media Messages: document | Maximum file size for an uploaded document file is 100 MB. Supported formats: plaintext, PDF, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel. |
| Interactive messages | Send List Messages (up to 10 options), Reply Button Messages (up to 3 buttons), Call-to-Action URL Button Messages (1 URL button), Location Request Messages, Catalog Messages (entire product catalog), Product Messages (up to 30 items from a business’ inventory), and Flow Messages for structured multi-step interactions like bookings, surveys, or product browsing. |
| Location messages | Send location messages using the location object. |
| Contact messages | Send one or more contacts. |
| Template messages | Available Template Categories: Authentication, Marketing, and Utility. |