How to take a link to WhatsApp?

How to take a link to WhatsApp - briefly?

To create a link to WhatsApp, you need to use the following format: "https://wa.me/[phone number]". Simply replace "[phone number]" with the recipient's phone number in international format. For example, if the phone number is +1234567890, the link would be "https://wa.me/1234567890". This will open a chat with the specified contact when clicked.

How to take a link to WhatsApp - in detail?

To create a link that opens WhatsApp, you need to construct a specific URL format that WhatsApp recognizes and can act upon. This process involves defining the recipient's phone number and optionally including a pre-filled message or subject line. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to generate such a link:

  1. Basic Structure: The fundamental structure of a WhatsApp link is as follows:

    https://wa.me/[phone number]

    Replace [phone number] with the international phone number in full, including the country code but without any plus sign, spaces, or special characters. For example, for a US number, it would look like this:

    https://wa.me/1234567890
  2. Pre-filled Message: If you want to include a pre-filled message that will automatically appear when the link is opened in WhatsApp, you can add it by appending ?text= followed by the URL-encoded text of your message. For example:

    https://wa.me/1234567890?text=Hello%2C%20this%20is%20a%20test%20message.

    In this URL, %2C represents a comma and %20 represents a space. You can use online URL encoders to convert your message into the appropriate format if needed.

  3. Pre-filled Subject: Similarly, you can include a pre-filled subject line by appending &subject= followed by the URL-encoded text of your subject. For example:

    https://wa.me/1234567890?text=Hello%2C%20this%20is%20a%20test%20message.&subject=Test%20Subject
  4. Testing the Link: Before sharing the link widely, it’s a good idea to test it on different devices and browsers to ensure that it works correctly and opens WhatsApp as expected. Sometimes, the default behavior of opening links in specific apps can vary based on the user's device settings.

  5. Considerations: Remember that the recipient must have WhatsApp installed on their phone for the link to function properly. If WhatsApp is not installed, the link will usually take them to the appropriate app store page where they can download it.

By following these steps, you can create a functional and user-friendly link that directs users straight into a conversation on WhatsApp, enhancing your communication effectiveness.