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Templates are reusable message formats for sending structured messages across WhatsApp, SMS, Telegram, and other channels. WhatsApp requires template approval for business-initiated conversations.

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Create Template

const result = await client.templates.create({
  name: "order_confirmation",
  language: "en",
  body: "Hi {{1}}, your order #{{2}} is confirmed!",
  whatsappCategory: "UTILITY",
  variables: ["customer_name", "order_id"],
});

console.log(result.id); // tpl_xxx
console.log(result.status); // draft, pending, approved, rejected

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List Templates

const result = await client.templates.list({});

for (const template of result.items) {
  console.log(template.id, template.name, template.status);
}

// With pagination
const result = await client.templates.list({
  limit: 50,
  cursor: "cursor_xxx",
});

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Get Template

const result = await client.templates.get({
  templateId: "tpl_abc123",
});

console.log(result.name);
console.log(result.body);
console.log(result.status);

​
Delete Template

await client.templates.delete({
  templateId: "tpl_abc123",
});

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Submit Template for Approval

After creating a template, you need to submit it to Meta for approval before you can use it: 
const result = await client.templates.submit({
  templateId: "tpl_abc123",
  senderId: "sender_xyz",
  category: "UTILITY", // Optional if already set on template
});

console.log(result.status); // "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

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Using Templates in Messages

Templates can be sent on any channel by specifying the channel parameter: 
// WhatsApp (default if no channel specified)
const result = await client.messages.send({
  to: "+14155551234",
  messageType: "template",
  content: {
    templateId: "tpl_abc123",
    templateVariables: {
      "1": "John",
      "2": "ORD-12345",
    },
  },
});

// Telegram
const telegramResult = await client.messages.send({
  to: "123456789",
  channel: "telegram",
  messageType: "template",
  content: {
    templateId: "tpl_abc123",
    templateVariables: {
      "1": "John",
      "2": "ORD-12345",
    },
  },
});

// SMS
const smsResult = await client.messages.send({
  to: "+14155551234",
  channel: "sms",
  messageType: "template",
  content: {
    templateId: "tpl_abc123",
    templateVariables: {
      "1": "John",
      "2": "ORD-12345",
    },
  },
});
When a channel-specific body (smsBody, telegramBody) is set on the template, it will be used instead of the default body. Contact variables like {{contact.first_name}} are auto-resolved from the recipient’s contact metadata.