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

code

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:

code

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

•Sign in or create an account at maton.ai
•Go to maton.ai/settings
•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

Status	Meaning
400	Missing WhatsApp Business connection or invalid request
401	Invalid or missing Maton API key
404	Phone number or resource not found
429	Rate limited (10 req/sec per account)
4xx/5xx	Passthrough 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: Invalid API Key

When you receive a "Invalid API key" error, ALWAYS follow these steps before concluding there is an issue:

•Check that the MATON_API_KEY environment variable is set:

bash

echo $MATON_API_KEY

•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

WhatsApp Business

Quick Start

Base URL

Authentication

Getting Your API Key

Connection Management

List Connections

Create Connection

Get Connection

Delete Connection

Specifying Connection

API Reference

Messages

Send Text Message

Send Template Message

Send Image Message

Send Document Message

Send Video Message

Send Audio Message

Send Location Message

Send Contact Message

Send Interactive Button Message

Send Interactive List Message

Mark Message as Read

Media

Upload Media

Get Media URL

Delete Media

Message Templates

List Templates

Create Template

Delete Template

Phone Numbers

Get Phone Number

List Phone Numbers

Business Profile

Get Business Profile

Update Business Profile

Code Examples

JavaScript

Python

Notes

Error Handling

Troubleshooting: Invalid API Key

Resources