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Templates are pre-approved message formats required for initiating WhatsApp conversations outside the 24-hour window.

​
Create Template

$result = $client->templates->create([
    'name' => 'order_confirmation',
    'language' => 'en',
    'body' => 'Hi {{1}}, your order #{{2}} is confirmed!',
    'whatsappCategory' => 'UTILITY',
    'variables' => ['customer_name', 'order_id'],
]);

echo $result->id . "\n"; // tpl_xxx
echo $result->status . "\n"; // draft, pending, approved, rejected

​
List Templates

$result = $client->templates->list([]);

foreach ($result->items as $template) {
    echo $template->id . " " . $template->name . " " . $template->status . "\n";
}

// With pagination
$result = $client->templates->list([
    'limit' => 50,
    'cursor' => 'cursor_xxx',
]);

​
Get Template

$result = $client->templates->get([
    'templateId' => 'tpl_abc123',
]);

echo $result->name . "\n";
echo $result->body . "\n";
echo $result->status . "\n";

​
Delete Template

$client->templates->delete([
    'templateId' => 'tpl_abc123',
]);

​
Submit Template for Approval

After creating a template, you need to submit it to Meta for approval before you can use it: 
$result = $client->templates->submit([
    'templateId' => 'tpl_abc123',
    'senderId' => 'sender_xyz',
    'category' => 'UTILITY', // Optional if already set on template
]);

echo $result->status . "\n"; // "pending"
The senderId must reference a sender that has a WhatsApp Business Account configured. Templates are submitted to the WABA associated with that sender.

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Template Categories

CategoryUse Case
UTILITYOrder updates, account alerts, appointment reminders
MARKETINGPromotions, offers, newsletters
AUTHENTICATIONOTP codes, verification messages

​
Using Templates in Messages

$result = $client->messages->send([
    'to' => '+14155551234',
    'messageType' => 'template',
    'content' => [
        'templateId' => 'tpl_abc123',
        'templateVariables' => [
            '1' => 'John',
            '2' => 'ORD-12345',
        ],
    ],
]);