WhatsApp Business#

Access the WhatsApp Business API with managed OAuth authentication. Send messages, manage message templates, handle media, and interact with customers through WhatsApp.

Quick Start#

bash

# Send a text message
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
data = json.dumps({'messaging_product': 'whatsapp', 'to': '1234567890', 'type': 'text', 'text': {'body': 'Hello from WhatsApp Business!'}}).encode()
req = urllib.request.Request('https://gateway.maton.ai/whatsapp-business/v21.0/PHONE_NUMBER_ID/messages', data=data, method='POST')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Base URL#

text

https://gateway.maton.ai/whatsapp-business/{native-api-path}

Replace {native-api-path} with the actual WhatsApp Business API endpoint path. The gateway proxies requests to graph.facebook.com and automatically injects your OAuth token.

Authentication#

All requests require the Maton API key in the Authorization header:

text

Authorization: Bearer $MATON_API_KEY

Environment Variable: Set your API key as MATON_API_KEY:

bash

export MATON_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"

Getting Your API Key#

1. Sign in or create an account at maton.ai
2. Go to maton.ai/settings
3. Copy your API key

Connection Management#

Manage your WhatsApp Business OAuth connections at https://ctrl.maton.ai.

List Connections#

bash

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections?app=whatsapp-business&status=ACTIVE')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Create Connection#

bash

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
data = json.dumps({'app': 'whatsapp-business'}).encode()
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections', data=data, method='POST')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Get Connection#

bash

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections/{connection_id}')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Response:

json

{
  "connection": {
    "connection_id": "21fd90f9-5935-43cd-b6c8-bde9d915ca80",
    "status": "ACTIVE",
    "creation_time": "2025-12-08T07:20:53.488460Z",
    "last_updated_time": "2026-01-31T20:03:32.593153Z",
    "url": "https://connect.maton.ai/?session_token=...",
    "app": "whatsapp-business",
    "metadata": {}
  }
}

Open the returned url in a browser to complete OAuth authorization.

Delete Connection#

bash

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections/{connection_id}', method='DELETE')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Specifying Connection#

If you have multiple WhatsApp Business connections, specify which one to use with the Maton-Connection header:

bash

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
data = json.dumps({'messaging_product': 'whatsapp', 'to': '1234567890', 'type': 'text', 'text': {'body': 'Hello!'}}).encode()
req = urllib.request.Request('https://gateway.maton.ai/whatsapp-business/v21.0/PHONE_NUMBER_ID/messages', data=data, method='POST')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Maton-Connection', '21fd90f9-5935-43cd-b6c8-bde9d915ca80')
req.add_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

If omitted, the gateway uses the default (oldest) active connection.

API Reference#

Messages#

Send Text Message

bash

POST /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}/messages
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "recipient_type": "individual",
  "to": "1234567890",
  "type": "text",
  "text": {
    "preview_url": true,
    "body": "Hello! Check out https://example.com"
  }
}

Send Template Message

bash

POST /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}/messages
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "to": "1234567890",
  "type": "template",
  "template": {
    "name": "hello_world",
    "language": {
      "code": "en_US"
    },
    "components": [
      {
        "type": "body",
        "parameters": [
          {"type": "text", "text": "John"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Send Image Message

bash

POST /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}/messages
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "to": "1234567890",
  "type": "image",
  "image": {
    "link": "https://example.com/image.jpg",
    "caption": "Check out this image!"
  }
}

Send Document Message

bash

POST /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}/messages
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "to": "1234567890",
  "type": "document",
  "document": {
    "link": "https://example.com/document.pdf",
    "caption": "Here's the document",
    "filename": "report.pdf"
  }
}

Send Video Message

bash

POST /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}/messages
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "to": "1234567890",
  "type": "video",
  "video": {
    "link": "https://example.com/video.mp4",
    "caption": "Watch this video"
  }
}

Send Audio Message

bash

POST /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}/messages
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "to": "1234567890",
  "type": "audio",
  "audio": {
    "link": "https://example.com/audio.mp3"
  }
}

Send Location Message

bash

POST /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}/messages
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "to": "1234567890",
  "type": "location",
  "location": {
    "latitude": 37.7749,
    "longitude": -122.4194,
    "name": "San Francisco",
    "address": "San Francisco, CA, USA"
  }
}

Send Contact Message

bash

POST /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}/messages
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "to": "1234567890",
  "type": "contacts",
  "contacts": [
    {
      "name": {
        "formatted_name": "John Doe",
        "first_name": "John",
        "last_name": "Doe"
      },
      "phones": [
        {"phone": "+1234567890", "type": "MOBILE"}
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Send Interactive Button Message

bash

POST /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}/messages
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "to": "1234567890",
  "type": "interactive",
  "interactive": {
    "type": "button",
    "body": {
      "text": "Would you like to proceed?"
    },
    "action": {
      "buttons": [
        {"type": "reply", "reply": {"id": "yes", "title": "Yes"}},
        {"type": "reply", "reply": {"id": "no", "title": "No"}}
      ]
    }
  }
}

Send Interactive List Message

bash

POST /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}/messages
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "to": "1234567890",
  "type": "interactive",
  "interactive": {
    "type": "list",
    "header": {"type": "text", "text": "Select an option"},
    "body": {"text": "Choose from the list below"},
    "action": {
      "button": "View Options",
      "sections": [
        {
          "title": "Products",
          "rows": [
            {"id": "prod1", "title": "Product 1", "description": "First product"},
            {"id": "prod2", "title": "Product 2", "description": "Second product"}
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

Mark Message as Read

bash

POST /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}/messages
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "status": "read",
  "message_id": "wamid.xxxxx"
}

Media#

Upload Media

bash

POST /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}/media
Content-Type: multipart/form-data

file=@/path/to/file.jpg
type=image/jpeg
messaging_product=whatsapp

Get Media URL

bash

GET /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{media_id}

Delete Media

bash

DELETE /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{media_id}

Message Templates#

List Templates

bash

GET /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{whatsapp_business_account_id}/message_templates

Query parameters:

• limit - Number of templates to return
• status - Filter by status: APPROVED, PENDING, REJECTED

Create Template

bash

POST /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{whatsapp_business_account_id}/message_templates
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "name": "order_confirmation",
  "language": "en_US",
  "category": "UTILITY",
  "components": [
    {
      "type": "HEADER",
      "format": "TEXT",
      "text": "Order Confirmation"
    },
    {
      "type": "BODY",
      "text": "Hi {{1}}, your order #{{2}} has been confirmed!"
    },
    {
      "type": "FOOTER",
      "text": "Thank you for your purchase"
    }
  ]
}

Template categories: AUTHENTICATION, MARKETING, UTILITY

Delete Template

bash

DELETE /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{whatsapp_business_account_id}/message_templates?name=template_name

Phone Numbers#

Get Phone Number

bash

GET /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}

List Phone Numbers

bash

GET /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{whatsapp_business_account_id}/phone_numbers

Business Profile#

Get Business Profile

bash

GET /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}/whatsapp_business_profile?fields=about,address,description,email,profile_picture_url,websites,vertical

Update Business Profile

bash

POST /whatsapp-business/v21.0/{phone_number_id}/whatsapp_business_profile
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "about": "Your trusted partner",
  "address": "123 Business St",
  "description": "We provide excellent services",
  "email": "contact@example.com",
  "websites": ["https://example.com"],
  "vertical": "RETAIL"
}

Code Examples#

JavaScript#

javascript

const headers = {
  'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.MATON_API_KEY}`,
  'Content-Type': 'application/json'
};

// Send text message
await fetch(
  'https://gateway.maton.ai/whatsapp-business/v21.0/PHONE_NUMBER_ID/messages',
  {
    method: 'POST',
    headers,
    body: JSON.stringify({
      messaging_product: 'whatsapp',
      to: '1234567890',
      type: 'text',
      text: { body: 'Hello from WhatsApp!' }
    })
  }
);

// Send template message
await fetch(
  'https://gateway.maton.ai/whatsapp-business/v21.0/PHONE_NUMBER_ID/messages',
  {
    method: 'POST',
    headers,
    body: JSON.stringify({
      messaging_product: 'whatsapp',
      to: '1234567890',
      type: 'template',
      template: {
        name: 'hello_world',
        language: { code: 'en_US' }
      }
    })
  }
);

Python#

python

import os
import requests

headers = {
    'Authorization': f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

# Send text message
response = requests.post(
    'https://gateway.maton.ai/whatsapp-business/v21.0/PHONE_NUMBER_ID/messages',
    headers=headers,
    json={
        'messaging_product': 'whatsapp',
        'to': '1234567890',
        'type': 'text',
        'text': {'body': 'Hello from WhatsApp!'}
    }
)

# Send template message
response = requests.post(
    'https://gateway.maton.ai/whatsapp-business/v21.0/PHONE_NUMBER_ID/messages',
    headers=headers,
    json={
        'messaging_product': 'whatsapp',
        'to': '1234567890',
        'type': 'template',
        'template': {
            'name': 'hello_world',
            'language': {'code': 'en_US'}
        }
    }
)

Notes#

• Phone numbers must be in international format without + or leading zeros (e.g., 1234567890)
• messaging_product must always be set to whatsapp
• Template messages are required for initiating conversations (24-hour messaging window)
• Media files must be publicly accessible URLs or uploaded via the Media API
• Interactive messages support up to 3 buttons or 10 list items
• Message IDs ( wamid) are used to track message status and replies
• API version v21.0 is current; check Meta docs for latest version
• IMPORTANT: When using curl commands, use curl -g when URLs contain brackets ( fields[], sort[], records[]) to disable glob parsing
• IMPORTANT: When piping curl output to jq or other commands, environment variables like $MATON_API_KEY may not expand correctly in some shell environments. You may get "Invalid API key" errors when piping.

Error Handling#

StatusMeaning400Missing WhatsApp Business connection or invalid request401Invalid or missing Maton API key404Phone number or resource not found429Rate limited (10 req/sec per account)4xx/5xxPassthrough error from WhatsApp Business API

Common error codes from WhatsApp:

• 131030 - Phone number not registered
• 131031 - Message failed to send
• 132000 - Template not found or not approved
• 133010 - Phone number rate limit reached

Troubleshooting: API Key Issues#

1. Check that the MATON_API_KEY environment variable is set:

bash

echo $MATON_API_KEY

1. Verify the API key is valid by listing connections:

bash

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://ctrl.maton.ai/connections')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Troubleshooting: Invalid App Name#

1. Ensure your URL path starts with whatsapp-business. For example:

• Correct: https://gateway.maton.ai/whatsapp-business/v21.0/PHONE_NUMBER_ID/messages
• Incorrect: https://gateway.maton.ai/v21.0/PHONE_NUMBER_ID/messages

Resources#

• WhatsApp Business API Overview
• Send Messages
• Message Templates
• Media
• Phone Numbers
• Business Profiles
• Webhooks
• Error Codes
• Maton Community
• Maton Support