What should a WhatsApp link look like?

What should a WhatsApp link look like - briefly?

A WhatsApp link typically follows this format: https://wa.me/PHONENUMBER, where PHONENUMBER is the full international phone number in E.164 format without the '+' sign. For example, a link for a U.S.-based number would look like: https://wa.me/1234567890.

What should a WhatsApp link look like - in detail?

A WhatsApp link is designed to facilitate quick and easy communication via the popular messaging platform. To understand what a WhatsApp link should look like, it's important to consider its structure and components.

At its core, a WhatsApp link consists of two main parts: the base URL and the query parameters. The base URL is consistent for all WhatsApp links and serves as the foundation upon which additional information can be appended. The standard format for a WhatsApp link is:

https://wa.me/<phone_number>

Here, <phone_number> should be replaced with the actual phone number of the recipient, formatted according to international standards. For example, if you want to send a message to a user in the United States with the phone number 1234567890, the link would look like this:

https://wa.me/1234567890

It's crucial that the phone number is preceded by the country code without any leading zeros or special characters such as spaces, dashes, or parentheses. Additionally, the plus sign (+) should not be used in this context.

While the basic link format allows for initiating a chat with a specific user, WhatsApp also supports additional query parameters to enhance functionality. Some of these parameters include:

• text: Allows you to pre-fill a message that will be sent when the link is clicked. For example:

  https://wa.me/1234567890?text=Hello%2C%20how%20are%20you?

  Note that spaces and special characters in the message need to be URL-encoded.

• app: Specifies whether the link should open WhatsApp Web or the desktop app. The values can be web, sender, or business. For instance:

  https://wa.me/1234567890?text=Hello%2C%20how%20are%20you?&app=sender

• entrypoint: Determines the entry point for the conversation, which can be either web, messenger, or native. For example:

  https://wa.me/1234567890?text=Hello%2C%20how%20are%20you?&entrypoint=messenger

By including these query parameters, you can create a more tailored and user-friendly experience when sharing WhatsApp links.

In summary, a well-crafted WhatsApp link begins with the base URL https://wa.me/ followed by the recipient's phone number in international format. Additional query parameters can be appended to pre-fill messages or specify the intended entry point for the conversation. Adhering to these guidelines ensures that your WhatsApp links are effective and user-friendly, facilitating seamless communication.