You may learn how to set up your WhatsApp Business API client, register your phone number, change your settings, and send a test message with the help of this guide.

Three basic steps make up the beginning process for using this API:

1.Setting up the necessary assets, such as a WhatsApp Business Account, is necessary before you begin your API integration.

2. Download and install the WhatsApp Business API Client. Get an API client installed. As soon as your client is operational, you can modify the parameters for your application.

3. The client can be used now. Send a test message by calling the API endpoint for /messages and registering your phone number.

Creating a WhatsApp Account

To your WhatsApp business account, enter a phone number along with its display name. The display name will be sent for review in this way.

After completing registration, you must wait 30 days before requesting another display name change. Until then, you can change your display name as often as you like.

Your base64-encoded certificate, which is required for registering your WhatsApp Business API client, can be viewed and accessed once all reviews have been finished. Before making any more modifications to a display name, we advise you to register with an authorised display name to begin integration. Any time after integration, you can modify your display name.

Step 1: Install the WhatsApp Business API Client Environment

The WhatsApp Business API client's foundation is Docker. To learn more about each component, see Client Architecture.

Equipment

Any device with internet access and the ability to run Docker for Linux, whether it be a virtual machine or a Linux server, can use the WhatsApp Business API client. Look at the FAQ for further details. Using a laptop, for instance, allows for simple testing. At a minimum, a production environment server should have a 250 GB SSD, 16 GB RAM, and a 4 core CPU. The I/O rates will slow down under stress if you use an HDD.

Most of the time, you should operate the database on a different physical server than the Coreapp and Webapp containers.

Installation

With the WhatsApp Business API, there are two ways to get started:

1. On-Premises installation – Using the Installation instructions, you can set up the Docker containers on your own. Start with one of the Developer Setups to become accustomed to the setup procedure and message sending. Before transferring to a production environment, you can test this On-Premises solution on your computer.

2. Amazon Web Services (AWS): View the AWS guide if you utilise AWS or would like a more stand-alone alternative. The AWS solution creates a full WhatsApp Business API setup with backups, recovery, and more in an AWS cloud that you control and own.

Step 2: Start Making Use of the Client Registration

By making an API request to the account endpoint after starting the WhatsApp Business API client, you can register your phone number.

Transmit a test message

The messages endpoint allows you to send test messages. Check the condition of the phone number you're using for testing first. To open the Customer Service window, which enables you to send any kind of message inside the 24-hour window, you must send a message from the test phone number to your WhatsApp account (See Cut-off Control for details). After that, SMS your test phone number. The installation was successful if the message was received.