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Content Types Overview



Template Support on API Vs. Console

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All template types will appear on the Content Templates. Template types that are supported on API only will display the following pop-up when opened in the console.

Template types supported on API.
Support
Content TypeConsoleAPI
twilio/textYesYes
twilio/mediaYesYes
twilio/locationComing SoonYes
twilio/list-pickerYesYes
twilio/call-to-actionYesYes
twilio/quick-replyYesYes
twilio/cardYesYes
whatsapp/authenticationYesYes
whatsapp/cardYesYes

Twilio supports the following content types, which we describe in the sections that follow.

Channel Support
Content TypeSMSMMSWhatsApp(link takes you to an external page)Messenger(link takes you to an external page)
twilio/textYesComing soonYesYes
twilio/mediaYesYesYes
twilio/locationYes
twilio/quick-repliesYesYes
twilio/call-to-actionYesYes
twilio/list-pickerYes
twilio/cardYesYes
whatsapp/cardYes
whatsapp/authenticationYes

Channel Media Type Support

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Twilio supports the following content types, which we describe in the sections that follow.

Channel Support
Content TypeSMSMMSWhatsApp(link takes you to an external page)Messenger(link takes you to an external page)
ImagesYesYesYes
VideoYesYesYes
DocumentYesYes
AudioIn session onlyYes

  • Images: JPG, JPEG, PNG
  • Documents: PDF, DOC, DOCX, PPTX, XLSX
  • Video: MP4 (with H.264 video codec and AAC audio)
  • Audio: OGG

WhatsApp Approval Requirements

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WhatsApp has channel-specific approval requirements and limitations. By default, to send outbound messages to WhatsApp users, template approval by WhatsApp is required. This is done as a separate API request via the Content API. However, if a WhatsApp subscriber initiates a 24-hour messaging session with an inbound message, then certain outbound rich content types can be sent without a template during the 24-hour session.

WhatsApp Session Type
Twilio Content TypeUser Initiated: 24 hour Session (initiated by inbound message)Business Initiated: Out of Session (initiated by a business - no inbound message)
twilio/text✅ No Approval Required to Send Messages⚠️ Template Approval Required to Send Messages
twilio/media✅ No Approval Required to Send Messages⚠️ Template Approval Required to Send Messages
twilio/location✅ No Approval Required to Send Messages🚫 Not supported
twilio/call-to-action⚠️ Template Approval Required to Send Messages⚠️ Template Approval Required to Send Messages
twilio/quick-reply✅ No Approval Required to Send Messages⚠️ Template Approval Required to Send Messages
twilio/list-picker✅ No Approval Required to Send Messages🚫 Not supported
twilio/card⚠️ Template Approval Required to Send Messages⚠️ Template Approval Required to Send Messages
whatsapp/card⚠️ Template Approval Required to Send Messages⚠️ Template Approval Required to Send Messages
whatsapp/authentication⚠️ Template Approval Required to Send Messages⚠️ Template Approval Required to Send Messages

WhatsApp Template Approval Statuses

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Templates can have the following statuses:

  • Unsubmitted: Indicates that the template has not been submitted to Twilio or WhatsApp for any sort of approval. These templates may still be used in session for some channels and in some WA sessions subject to the WhatsApp approval requirements listed above.
  • Received : Indicates that your template approval request has been received by Twilio. It is not yet in review by WhatsApp.
  • Pending : Indicates that the template is now under review by WhatsApp. Review can take up to 24 hours.
  • Approved : The template was approved by WhatsApp and can be used to notify customers.
  • Rejected : The template has been rejected by WhatsApp during the review process.
  • Paused : The template has been paused by WhatsApp due to recurring negative feedback from end users, typically resulting from "block" and "report spam" actions associated with the template. Message templates with this status cannot be sent to end users.
  • Disabled : The template has been disabled by WhatsApp due to recurring negative feedback from end users or for violating one or more of WhatsApp's policies. Message templates with this status cannot be sent to end users.

The following parameters are used as an array in the "Actions" parameter of twilio/quick-reply, twilio/call-to-action, and twilio/card content types.

Actions

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Parameter: type

  • Type: string (enum)
  • Required: yes
  • Variable Support: no
  • Description: The type of action.

    • Call to Action Values: URL, PHONE_NUMBER
    • Quick Reply Value: QUICK_REPLY
    • Card Values: URL, PHONE_NUMBER, QUICK_REPLY
    • whatsapp/authentication: COPY_CODE

Parameter: title

  • Type: string
  • Required:

    • no - whatsapp/authentication
    • yes - all others
  • Variable Support: no - quick_reply buttons on templates for WA business initiated messages. yes - everywhere else
  • Description: Display value for the action. For type QUICK_REPLY, this is the message that will be sent back when the user taps on the button.

    • Maximum 25 characters (WhatsApp)
    • Maximum 20 characters (Facebook)

Parameter: url

  • Type: string
  • Required:

    • yes - URL
    • no - others
  • Variable Support: yes
  • Description: URL to direct to when the recipient taps the button.

Parameter: phone

  • Type: string (enum)
  • Required:

    • yes - PHONE_NUMBER
    • no - others
  • Variable Support: no
  • Description: Phone number to call when the recipient taps the button.

Parameter: id

  • Type: string (enum)
  • Required: no
  • Variable Support: yes
  • Description: Postback payload. This field is not visible to the end user.

    • Maximum: 128 characters

      • For unapproved WA templates in session the max is 256 characters

Parameter: copy_code_text

  • Type: string
  • Required:

    • yes - whatsapp/authentication
    • no - all other templates
  • Variable Support: no
  • Description: Display value for the Copy Code button.

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