# Rich Messaging Features in the Twilio API for WhatsApp

Twilio supports WhatsApp-specific features to make it easier for your customers to engage with you.

## Rich outbound messages with Content Template Builder

WhatsApp's rich messaging features are supported using Twilio's [Content Template Builder](/docs/content/overview).

These features include:

* Formatting message text
* Messages including location information
* Card messages with images, text, and/or buttons
* List messages
* Call-to-action messages
* Messages with quick reply buttons
* Product Catalogs
* Carousels
* Flows

## Rich Inbound Features in Webhooks

Twilio supports the inbound metadata made available by WhatsApp. This includes the end user's profile name, click to WhatsApp ad parameters, and much more.

See [our request to your webhook URL](/docs/messaging/guides/webhook-request#whatsapp-specific-parameters) for all of the supported inbound parameters for rich messages.

## Formatting in WhatsApp Messages

WhatsApp allows text, emojis, and some formatting in messages. To format all or part of a message, use these formatting symbols:

| Formatting           | Symbol                   | Example                  |
| -------------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------ |
| Bold                 | Asterisk (\*\*)          | Your total is *$10.50*.  |
| Italic               | Underscore (\_)          | Welcome to *WhatsApp*!   |
| Strike-through       | Tilde (\~)               | This is ~~better~~ best! |
| Code / Pre-formatted | Three backticks (\`\`\`) | `print 'Hello World';`   |

Send a formatted WhatsApp message

```js
// Download the helper library from https://www.twilio.com/docs/node/install
const twilio = require("twilio"); // Or, for ESM: import twilio from "twilio";

// Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
// and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
const accountSid = process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID;
const authToken = process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN;
const client = twilio(accountSid, authToken);

async function createMessage() {
  const message = await client.messages.create({
    body: "🎶I am _not_ ~pushing~ throwing away my *shot*!",
    from: "whatsapp:+15005550006",
    messagingServiceSid: "MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
    to: "whatsapp:+14155552345",
  });

  console.log(message.body);
}

createMessage();
```

```python
# Download the helper library from https://www.twilio.com/docs/python/install
import os
from twilio.rest import Client

# Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
# and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
account_sid = os.environ["TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID"]
auth_token = os.environ["TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN"]
client = Client(account_sid, auth_token)

message = client.messages.create(
    from_="whatsapp:+15005550006",
    messaging_service_sid="MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
    body="🎶I am _not_ ~pushing~ throwing away my *shot*!",
    to="whatsapp:+14155552345",
)

print(message.body)
```

```csharp
// Install the C# / .NET helper library from twilio.com/docs/csharp/install

using System;
using Twilio;
using Twilio.Rest.Api.V2010.Account;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

class Program {
    public static async Task Main(string[] args) {
        // Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
        // and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
        string accountSid = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID");
        string authToken = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN");

        TwilioClient.Init(accountSid, authToken);

        var message = await MessageResource.CreateAsync(
            from: new Twilio.Types.PhoneNumber("whatsapp:+15005550006"),
            messagingServiceSid: "MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
            body: "🎶I am _not_ ~pushing~ throwing away my *shot*!",
            to: new Twilio.Types.PhoneNumber("whatsapp:+14155552345"));

        Console.WriteLine(message.Body);
    }
}
```

```java
// Install the Java helper library from twilio.com/docs/java/install

import com.twilio.type.PhoneNumber;
import com.twilio.Twilio;
import com.twilio.rest.api.v2010.account.Message;

public class Example {
    // Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
    // and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
    public static final String ACCOUNT_SID = System.getenv("TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID");
    public static final String AUTH_TOKEN = System.getenv("TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN");

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Twilio.init(ACCOUNT_SID, AUTH_TOKEN);
        Message message = Message
                              .creator(new com.twilio.type.PhoneNumber("whatsapp:+14155552345"),
                                  new com.twilio.type.PhoneNumber("whatsapp:+15005550006"),
                                  "🎶I am _not_ ~pushing~ throwing away my *shot*!")
                              .setMessagingServiceSid("MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX")
                              .create();

        System.out.println(message.getBody());
    }
}
```

```go
// Download the helper library from https://www.twilio.com/docs/go/install
package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"github.com/twilio/twilio-go"
	api "github.com/twilio/twilio-go/rest/api/v2010"
	"os"
)

func main() {
	// Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
	// and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
	// Make sure TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID and TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN exists in your environment
	client := twilio.NewRestClient()

	params := &api.CreateMessageParams{}
	params.SetFrom("whatsapp:+15005550006")
	params.SetMessagingServiceSid("MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX")
	params.SetBody("🎶I am _not_ ~pushing~ throwing away my *shot*!")
	params.SetTo("whatsapp:+14155552345")

	resp, err := client.Api.CreateMessage(params)
	if err != nil {
		fmt.Println(err.Error())
		os.Exit(1)
	} else {
		if resp.Body != nil {
			fmt.Println(*resp.Body)
		} else {
			fmt.Println(resp.Body)
		}
	}
}
```

```php
<?php

// Update the path below to your autoload.php,
// see https://getcomposer.org/doc/01-basic-usage.md
require_once "/path/to/vendor/autoload.php";

use Twilio\Rest\Client;

// Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
// and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
$sid = $_ENV["TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID"];
$token = $_ENV["TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN"];
$twilio = new Client($sid, $token);

$message = $twilio->messages->create(
    "whatsapp:+14155552345", // To
    [
        "from" => "whatsapp:+15005550006",
        "messagingServiceSid" => "MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
        "body" => "🎶I am _not_ ~pushing~ throwing away my *shot*!",
    ],
);

print $message->body;
```

```ruby
# Download the helper library from https://www.twilio.com/docs/ruby/install
require 'twilio-ruby'

# Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
# and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
account_sid = ENV['TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID']
auth_token = ENV['TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN']
@client = Twilio::REST::Client.new(account_sid, auth_token)

message = @client
          .api
          .v2010
          .messages
          .create(
            from: 'whatsapp:+15005550006',
            messaging_service_sid: 'MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX',
            body: '🎶I am _not_ ~pushing~ throwing away my *shot*!',
            to: 'whatsapp:+14155552345'
          )

puts message.body
```

```bash
EXCLAMATION_MARK='!'
# Install the twilio-cli from https://twil.io/cli

twilio api:core:messages:create \
   --from whatsapp:+15005550006 \
   --messaging-service-sid MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX \
   --body "🎶I am _not_ ~pushing~ throwing away my *shot*$EXCLAMATION_MARK" \
   --to whatsapp:+14155552345
```

```bash
EXCLAMATION_MARK='!'
curl -X POST "https://api.twilio.com/2010-04-01/Accounts/$TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID/Messages.json" \
--data-urlencode "From=whatsapp:+15005550006" \
--data-urlencode "MessagingServiceSid=MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX" \
--data-urlencode "Body=🎶I am _not_ ~pushing~ throwing away my *shot*$EXCLAMATION_MARK" \
--data-urlencode "To=whatsapp:+14155552345" \
-u $TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID:$TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN
```

```json
{
  "account_sid": "ACaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
  "api_version": "2010-04-01",
  "body": "🎶I am _not_ ~pushing~ throwing away my *shot*!",
  "date_created": "Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:01:45 +0000",
  "date_sent": "Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:01:45 +0000",
  "date_updated": "Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:01:45 +0000",
  "direction": "outbound-api",
  "error_code": null,
  "error_message": null,
  "from": "whatsapp:+15005550006",
  "num_media": "0",
  "num_segments": "1",
  "price": null,
  "price_unit": null,
  "messaging_service_sid": "MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
  "sid": "SMaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
  "status": "queued",
  "subresource_uris": {
    "media": "/2010-04-01/Accounts/ACaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa/Messages/SMaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa/Media.json"
  },
  "to": "whatsapp:+14155552345",
  "uri": "/2010-04-01/Accounts/ACaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa/Messages/SMaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.json"
}
```

![WhatsApp message with music note emoji, text 'I am not pushing throwing away my shot!' showing italics, strikethrough, and bold.](https://docs-resources.prod.twilio.com/a41e3fcfad1b954f49bf44c313f9a9cdaa3e01182cd77d23f29701fcbe0ab392.jpg)

## Location Messages with WhatsApp

The Twilio API for WhatsApp supports sending and receiving GPS location data in messages to and from WhatsApp users.

> \[!WARNING]
>
> Facebook does not support location messaging in [WhatsApp message
> templates](/docs/whatsapp/key-concepts#message-templates).
> Twilio Conversations also does not support location messaging
> functionality. To send and receive location messages with
> WhatsApp, you'll need to use session messages leveraging the API or Twilio's
> SDKs.

### Send outbound location messages

Sending outbound location messages over WhatsApp is similar to sending a text-based message, with the addition of the `PersistentAction` parameter in your Twilio API requests. Outbound location messages must include the following information:

* `Body={name}`
* `PersistentAction=geo:{latitude},{longitude}` OR
* `PersistentAction=geo:{latitude},{longitude}|{label}`

| Name      | Type   | Required                    | Description                                                                                                                       |
| --------- | ------ | --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| name      | String | Yes (for outbound messages) | The name of the location being sent.(Location must exist in Google maps for the hyperlink to work on Mac/Windows WhatsApp client) |
| latitude  | Number | Yes                         | Latitude of the location being sent                                                                                               |
| longitude | Number | Yes                         | Longitude of the location being sent                                                                                              |
| label     | String | No                          | Optional free-form text to display under the location `name`                                                                      |

Send a WhatsApp message with location information

```js
// Download the helper library from https://www.twilio.com/docs/node/install
const twilio = require("twilio"); // Or, for ESM: import twilio from "twilio";

// Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
// and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
const accountSid = process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID;
const authToken = process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN;
const client = twilio(accountSid, authToken);

async function createMessage() {
  const message = await client.messages.create({
    body: "This is one of the Twilio office locations",
    messagingServiceSid: "MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
    persistentAction: ["geo:37.787890,-122.391664|375 Beale St"],
    to: "whatsapp:+15005550006",
  });

  console.log(message.body);
}

createMessage();
```

```python
# Download the helper library from https://www.twilio.com/docs/python/install
import os
from twilio.rest import Client

# Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
# and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
account_sid = os.environ["TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID"]
auth_token = os.environ["TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN"]
client = Client(account_sid, auth_token)

message = client.messages.create(
    to="whatsapp:+15005550006",
    messaging_service_sid="MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
    body="This is one of the Twilio office locations",
    persistent_action=["geo:37.787890,-122.391664|375 Beale St"],
)

print(message.body)
```

```csharp
// Install the C# / .NET helper library from twilio.com/docs/csharp/install

using System;
using Twilio;
using Twilio.Rest.Api.V2010.Account;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Collections.Generic;

class Program {
    public static async Task Main(string[] args) {
        // Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
        // and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
        string accountSid = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID");
        string authToken = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN");

        TwilioClient.Init(accountSid, authToken);

        var message = await MessageResource.CreateAsync(
            to: new Twilio.Types.PhoneNumber("whatsapp:+15005550006"),
            messagingServiceSid: "MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
            body: "This is one of the Twilio office locations",
            persistentAction: new List<string> { "geo:37.787890,-122.391664|375 Beale St" });

        Console.WriteLine(message.Body);
    }
}
```

```java
// Install the Java helper library from twilio.com/docs/java/install

import com.twilio.type.PhoneNumber;
import java.util.Arrays;
import com.twilio.Twilio;
import com.twilio.rest.api.v2010.account.Message;

public class Example {
    // Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
    // and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
    public static final String ACCOUNT_SID = System.getenv("TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID");
    public static final String AUTH_TOKEN = System.getenv("TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN");

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Twilio.init(ACCOUNT_SID, AUTH_TOKEN);
        Message message = Message
                              .creator(new com.twilio.type.PhoneNumber("whatsapp:+15005550006"),
                                  "MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
                                  "This is one of the Twilio office locations")
                              .setPersistentAction(Arrays.asList("geo:37.787890,-122.391664|375 Beale St"))
                              .create();

        System.out.println(message.getBody());
    }
}
```

```go
// Download the helper library from https://www.twilio.com/docs/go/install
package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"github.com/twilio/twilio-go"
	api "github.com/twilio/twilio-go/rest/api/v2010"
	"os"
)

func main() {
	// Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
	// and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
	// Make sure TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID and TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN exists in your environment
	client := twilio.NewRestClient()

	params := &api.CreateMessageParams{}
	params.SetTo("whatsapp:+15005550006")
	params.SetMessagingServiceSid("MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX")
	params.SetBody("This is one of the Twilio office locations")
	params.SetPersistentAction([]string{
		"geo:37.787890,-122.391664|375 Beale St",
	})

	resp, err := client.Api.CreateMessage(params)
	if err != nil {
		fmt.Println(err.Error())
		os.Exit(1)
	} else {
		if resp.Body != nil {
			fmt.Println(*resp.Body)
		} else {
			fmt.Println(resp.Body)
		}
	}
}
```

```php
<?php

// Update the path below to your autoload.php,
// see https://getcomposer.org/doc/01-basic-usage.md
require_once "/path/to/vendor/autoload.php";

use Twilio\Rest\Client;

// Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
// and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
$sid = $_ENV["TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID"];
$token = $_ENV["TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN"];
$twilio = new Client($sid, $token);

$message = $twilio->messages->create(
    "whatsapp:+15005550006", // To
    [
        "messagingServiceSid" => "MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
        "body" => "This is one of the Twilio office locations",
        "persistentAction" => ["geo:37.787890,-122.391664|375 Beale St"],
    ],
);

print $message->body;
```

```ruby
# Download the helper library from https://www.twilio.com/docs/ruby/install
require 'twilio-ruby'

# Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
# and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
account_sid = ENV['TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID']
auth_token = ENV['TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN']
@client = Twilio::REST::Client.new(account_sid, auth_token)

message = @client
          .api
          .v2010
          .messages
          .create(
            to: 'whatsapp:+15005550006',
            messaging_service_sid: 'MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX',
            body: 'This is one of the Twilio office locations',
            persistent_action: [
              'geo:37.787890,-122.391664|375 Beale St'
            ]
          )

puts message.body
```

```bash
# Install the twilio-cli from https://twil.io/cli

twilio api:core:messages:create \
   --to whatsapp:+15005550006 \
   --messaging-service-sid MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX \
   --body "This is one of the Twilio office locations" \
   --persistent-action "geo:37.787890,-122.391664|375 Beale St"
```

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.twilio.com/2010-04-01/Accounts/$TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID/Messages.json" \
--data-urlencode "To=whatsapp:+15005550006" \
--data-urlencode "MessagingServiceSid=MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX" \
--data-urlencode "Body=This is one of the Twilio office locations" \
--data-urlencode "PersistentAction=geo:37.787890,-122.391664|375 Beale St" \
-u $TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID:$TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN
```

```json
{
  "account_sid": "ACaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
  "api_version": "2010-04-01",
  "body": "This is one of the Twilio office locations",
  "date_created": "Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:01:45 +0000",
  "date_sent": "Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:01:45 +0000",
  "date_updated": "Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:01:45 +0000",
  "direction": "outbound-api",
  "error_code": null,
  "error_message": null,
  "from": "+14155552345",
  "num_media": "0",
  "num_segments": "1",
  "price": null,
  "price_unit": null,
  "messaging_service_sid": "MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
  "sid": "SMaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
  "status": "queued",
  "subresource_uris": {
    "media": "/2010-04-01/Accounts/ACaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa/Messages/SMaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa/Media.json"
  },
  "to": "whatsapp:+15005550006",
  "uri": "/2010-04-01/Accounts/ACaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa/Messages/SMaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.json"
}
```

Your user should receive a message that looks like this:

![WhatsApp message showing Twilio API link preview with logo and description.](https://docs-resources.prod.twilio.com/5c511cb07a9daf7e05522cea3a89a949abf573f2c17a9637afab7b3139a789d8.jpg)

### Receive inbound location messages

You can also receive inbound location messages with the Twilio API for WhatsApp.

Locations do not appear in [the Twilio Console](https://www.twilio.com/console). However, your web application will receive the location data in the `POST` request that Twilio sends. This data will be included in the HTTP `POST` request for the incoming message that we send to your webhook.

You will be able to access the following parameters in the `POST` request values Twilio sends to your application when you receive a WhatsApp location message:

* `Latitude`
* `Longitude`
* `Address`
* `Label`

#### Location Message Types

There are two types of location that users can send with WhatsApp: **Current Location** and Live Location. *The WhatsApp Business API does not support Live Location.*

*Current Location* is a static type of content, similar to a timestamp. This means the location information you receive from a user indicates where the user was in that particular moment in time when they triggered the "send location" action.

Below is a sample payload containing location information. The `Body={name}` parameter is not required for inbound messages.

```bash
Latitude=37.7879277&Longitude=-122.3937508&Address=375+Beale+St%2C+San+Francisco%2C+CA+94105&SmsMessageSid=SMxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&NumMedia=0&SmsSid=SMxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&Label=Twilio+Inc&Body=&To=whatsapp%3A%2B14155238886&NumSegments=1&MessageSid=SMxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&AccountSid=ACxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx&From=whatsapp%3A%2B12345678900&ApiVersion=2010-04-01
```

## Preview weblinks in freeform WhatsApp messages

When you are within the [24-hour session](/docs/whatsapp/api#conversational-messaging-on-whatsapp) (initiated by a customer sending your business a message), you can send freeform, non-templated messages with a customer. During this 24-hour window, WhatsApp messages that contain web links display a web page snippet preview on the WhatsApp client. WhatsApp does not support URL previews in templated messages.

![WhatsApp message with link that also displays a preview of the link.](https://docs-resources.prod.twilio.com/f21fa04e389d17d098b0582a3e6a71ffb03df0c6da7444090e8103310c86385d.jpg)

## Start conversations with deep links

Customers can initiate a conversation with you on WhatsApp through URL deep links, such as on your website. If end users have WhatsApp installed on their devices, clicking the deep link opens a conversation with your business inside of WhatsApp.

**Deep link format** : `https://wa.me/<e164 number>&text=Hello!`

Deep links can be embedded in web or mobile apps, advertised on the web, or placed in other visible locations. They are an effective way to start conversations without using [WhatsApp message templates](/docs/whatsapp/key-concepts#message-templates).

Send a message containing a link

```js
// Download the helper library from https://www.twilio.com/docs/node/install
const twilio = require("twilio"); // Or, for ESM: import twilio from "twilio";

// Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
// and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
const accountSid = process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID;
const authToken = process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN;
const client = twilio(accountSid, authToken);

async function createMessage() {
  const message = await client.messages.create({
    body: "Let's build something amazing with WhatsApp: https://www.twilio.com/docs/whatsapp",
    messagingServiceSid: "MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
    to: "whatsapp:+15005550006",
  });

  console.log(message.body);
}

createMessage();
```

```python
# Download the helper library from https://www.twilio.com/docs/python/install
import os
from twilio.rest import Client

# Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
# and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
account_sid = os.environ["TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID"]
auth_token = os.environ["TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN"]
client = Client(account_sid, auth_token)

message = client.messages.create(
    to="whatsapp:+15005550006",
    messaging_service_sid="MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
    body="Let's build something amazing with WhatsApp: https://www.twilio.com/docs/whatsapp",
)

print(message.body)
```

```csharp
// Install the C# / .NET helper library from twilio.com/docs/csharp/install

using System;
using Twilio;
using Twilio.Rest.Api.V2010.Account;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

class Program {
    public static async Task Main(string[] args) {
        // Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
        // and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
        string accountSid = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID");
        string authToken = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN");

        TwilioClient.Init(accountSid, authToken);

        var message = await MessageResource.CreateAsync(
            to: new Twilio.Types.PhoneNumber("whatsapp:+15005550006"),
            messagingServiceSid: "MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
            body: "Let's build something amazing with WhatsApp: https://www.twilio.com/docs/whatsapp");

        Console.WriteLine(message.Body);
    }
}
```

```java
// Install the Java helper library from twilio.com/docs/java/install

import com.twilio.type.PhoneNumber;
import com.twilio.Twilio;
import com.twilio.rest.api.v2010.account.Message;

public class Example {
    // Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
    // and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
    public static final String ACCOUNT_SID = System.getenv("TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID");
    public static final String AUTH_TOKEN = System.getenv("TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN");

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Twilio.init(ACCOUNT_SID, AUTH_TOKEN);
        Message message = Message
                              .creator(new com.twilio.type.PhoneNumber("whatsapp:+15005550006"),
                                  "MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
                                  "Let's build something amazing with WhatsApp: https://www.twilio.com/docs/whatsapp")
                              .create();

        System.out.println(message.getBody());
    }
}
```

```go
// Download the helper library from https://www.twilio.com/docs/go/install
package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"github.com/twilio/twilio-go"
	api "github.com/twilio/twilio-go/rest/api/v2010"
	"os"
)

func main() {
	// Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
	// and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
	// Make sure TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID and TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN exists in your environment
	client := twilio.NewRestClient()

	params := &api.CreateMessageParams{}
	params.SetTo("whatsapp:+15005550006")
	params.SetMessagingServiceSid("MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX")
	params.SetBody("Let's build something amazing with WhatsApp: https://www.twilio.com/docs/whatsapp")

	resp, err := client.Api.CreateMessage(params)
	if err != nil {
		fmt.Println(err.Error())
		os.Exit(1)
	} else {
		if resp.Body != nil {
			fmt.Println(*resp.Body)
		} else {
			fmt.Println(resp.Body)
		}
	}
}
```

```php
<?php

// Update the path below to your autoload.php,
// see https://getcomposer.org/doc/01-basic-usage.md
require_once "/path/to/vendor/autoload.php";

use Twilio\Rest\Client;

// Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
// and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
$sid = $_ENV["TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID"];
$token = $_ENV["TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN"];
$twilio = new Client($sid, $token);

$message = $twilio->messages->create(
    "whatsapp:+15005550006", // To
    [
        "messagingServiceSid" => "MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
        "body" =>
            "Let's build something amazing with WhatsApp: https://www.twilio.com/docs/whatsapp",
    ],
);

print $message->body;
```

```ruby
# Download the helper library from https://www.twilio.com/docs/ruby/install
require 'twilio-ruby'

# Find your Account SID and Auth Token at twilio.com/console
# and set the environment variables. See http://twil.io/secure
account_sid = ENV['TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID']
auth_token = ENV['TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN']
@client = Twilio::REST::Client.new(account_sid, auth_token)

message = @client
          .api
          .v2010
          .messages
          .create(
            to: 'whatsapp:+15005550006',
            messaging_service_sid: 'MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX',
            body: 'Let\'s build something amazing with WhatsApp: https://www.twilio.com/docs/whatsapp'
          )

puts message.body
```

```bash
# Install the twilio-cli from https://twil.io/cli

twilio api:core:messages:create \
   --to whatsapp:+15005550006 \
   --messaging-service-sid MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX \
   --body "Let's build something amazing with WhatsApp: https://www.twilio.com/docs/whatsapp"
```

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.twilio.com/2010-04-01/Accounts/$TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID/Messages.json" \
--data-urlencode "To=whatsapp:+15005550006" \
--data-urlencode "MessagingServiceSid=MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX" \
--data-urlencode "Body=Let's build something amazing with WhatsApp: https://www.twilio.com/docs/whatsapp" \
-u $TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID:$TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN
```

```json
{
  "account_sid": "ACaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
  "api_version": "2010-04-01",
  "body": "Let's build something amazing with WhatsApp: https://www.twilio.com/docs/whatsapp",
  "date_created": "Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:01:45 +0000",
  "date_sent": "Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:01:45 +0000",
  "date_updated": "Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:01:45 +0000",
  "direction": "outbound-api",
  "error_code": null,
  "error_message": null,
  "from": "+14155552345",
  "num_media": "0",
  "num_segments": "1",
  "price": null,
  "price_unit": null,
  "messaging_service_sid": "MGXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
  "sid": "SMaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
  "status": "queued",
  "subresource_uris": {
    "media": "/2010-04-01/Accounts/ACaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa/Messages/SMaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa/Media.json"
  },
  "to": "whatsapp:+15005550006",
  "uri": "/2010-04-01/Accounts/ACaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa/Messages/SMaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.json"
}
```

## QR Codes and Short Links

QR codes and short links enable consumers to initiate a conversation with a business without adding a new contact in their phone!

### What are QR codes?

A QR ("Quick Response") code is a type of barcode that you can use to open up a new WhatsApp conversation. Your end uses can scan your business' [QR code](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/business-management-api/qr-codes), and the WhatsApp business profile will automatically load, with a pre-filled message that your business can define.

Here's an example of a QR Code:

![QR code with WhatsApp logo for scanning.](https://docs-resources.prod.twilio.com/7b2254b05dce2de30691fab3eea5e8f3a9ab05f422657d6c07ae810ca2b36300.png)

### What are Short links?

Businesses can generate short links that, when clicked, load pre-filled messages. You can edit or delete these links at any time. Short links mask phone numbers so that only a random code appears in the URL.

### How can businesses use QR codes and short links?

* **Get in touch with more users.** Businesses can place QR codes on product packaging, receipts/invoices, at your storefront and other physical or digital surfaces. These can be used to respond to customer-initiated questions, such as pre-sales inquiries or post-purchase support.
* **Collect opt-in**. Businesses can collect opt-in for notifications via QR codes and/or short links.

### How can I get a QR code or short link?

To get a WhatsApp QR code or short link, open a support ticket and provide the WhatsApp Sender (Phone Number) and the message you would like to have embedded in the QR code or short link.

## What's Next?

Ready to send feature-rich messages to your end users over WhatsApp? Check out some of these resources to get started (or keep) building:

* [The WhatsApp API Overview](/docs/whatsapp/api)
* [Learn key concepts and terms for building with WhatsApp and Twilio](/docs/whatsapp/key-concepts)
* [Register a WhatsApp sender](/docs/whatsapp#whatsapp-sender-registration)