What does a WhatsApp link look like - briefly?
A WhatsApp link typically begins with "https://" followed by "wa.me/" and the recipient's phone number in international format without any dashes or spaces. For example: https://wa.me/1234567890
What does a WhatsApp link look like - in detail?
A WhatsApp link is a unique URL that allows users to directly access a specific conversation, group, or contact on the WhatsApp platform. These links are generated by the application itself and serve various purposes such as inviting new members to a group or sharing contact information with others. Understanding the structure of a WhatsApp link is essential for recognizing legitimate links and avoiding potential scams.
The standard format of a WhatsApp link is as follows:
https://wa.me/[country code][phone number]?text=[URL-encoded text]
Let's break down this structure in detail:
-
Protocol and Domain: The link begins with
https://, which indicates that the connection is secure. The domainwa.mespecifies that it is a WhatsApp link. -
Country Code and Phone Number: This part of the URL contains the country code followed by the phone number without any spaces or special characters. For example, if you want to send a message to a US-based number, the format would be
+1XXXXXXXXXX. -
Query Parameters: The question mark (
?) separates the base URL from the query parameters. WhatsApp links can include various query parameters, but one of the most common is thetextparameter. -
Text Parameter: The
textparameter allows you to pre-fill a message that will be sent when the link is opened. This text must be URL-encoded, meaning that special characters and spaces are replaced with a percentage sign followed by two hexadecimal digits. For example, a space becomes%20, and an exclamation mark becomes%21.
Here's an example of what a complete WhatsApp link might look like:
https://wa.me/1234567890?text=Hello%2C+this+is+a+test+message!
In this example:
- The country code is
1, and the phone number is234567890. - The pre-filled message is
Hello, this is a test message!, where spaces and punctuation are URL-encoded.
By understanding the structure of WhatsApp links, users can verify the authenticity of the links they receive and avoid potential phishing attempts or malicious content. Always ensure that the link you are using comes from a trusted source and matches the expected format.