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Content Types Overview



Template Support on API Vs. Console

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All template types will appear on the Content Templates. Template types that are supported on API only will display the following pop-up when opened in the console.

Template types supported on API.
Support
Content TypeConsoleAPI
twilio/textYesYes
twilio/mediaYesYes
twilio/locationNoYes
twilio/list-pickerYesYes
twilio/call-to-actionYesYes
twilio/quick-replyYesYes
twilio/cardYesYes
twilio/carouselNoYes
twilio/catalogYesYes
twilio/flowsNoYes
whatsapp/authenticationYesYes
whatsapp/cardYesYes

Channel Support and Priority Order

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Twilio supports the content types provided in the following table. This table lists the content types in order of content complexity. This ranges from the least complex content (twilio/text) to the most content (whatsapp/authentication). When message handles multiple content types, Twilio sends the most complex translation that the chosen channel supports.

Channel Support
Content TypeSMSMMSRCSWhatsApp(link takes you to an external page)Messenger(link takes you to an external page)
twilio/textYesYesYes
twilio/mediaYesYesYesYes
twilio/locationYes
twilio/quick-repliesYesYes
twilio/call-to-actionYesYes
twilio/list-pickerYes
twilio/cardYesYesYes
twilio/carouselYesYesNo
twilio/catalogYesNo
twilio/flowsYes
whatsapp/cardYes
whatsapp/authenticationYes

Channel Media Type Support

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Twilio supports the following media types(link takes you to an external page).

Channel Support
Content TypeSMSMMSRCSWhatsAppMessenger
ImagesYesYesYesYes
VideoYesYesYesYes
DocumentYesYesYesYes
AudioYesYesIn session onlyYes

WhatsApp Approval Requirements

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To send messages to WhatApp users, WhatsApp must approve your template. Another API request handles this approval. WhatsApp allows replies to inbound messages without a template for some content types.

WhatsApp Session Type
Twilio Content TypeUser Initiated: 24 hour Session (initiated by inbound message)Business Initiated: Out of Session (initiated by a business - no inbound message)
twilio/text✅ Can reply to inbound messages⚠️ Template approval required to send outbound messages
twilio/media✅ Can reply to inbound messages⚠️ Template approval required to send outbound messages
twilio/location✅ Can reply to inbound messages❌ Not supported
twilio/call-to-action⚠️ Template approval may be required to reply to inbound messages based on buttons types present⚠️ Template approval required to send outbound messages
twilio/quick-reply✅ Can reply to inbound messages⚠️ Template approval required to send outbound messages
twilio/list-picker✅ Can reply to inbound messages❌ Not supported
twilio/card⚠️ Template approval may be required to reply to inbound messages based on buttons types present⚠️ Template approval required to send outbound messages
twilio/carousel⚠️ Template approval required to reply to inbound messages⚠️ Template Approval Required to send outbound messages
twilio/catalog✅ Can reply to inbound messages⚠️ Template Approval Required to send outbound messages
twilio/flows⚠️ Template approval required to reply to inbound messages⚠️ Template Approval Required to send outbound messages
whatsapp/card⚠️ Template approval may be required to reply to inbound messages based on buttons types present⚠️ Template approval required to send outbound messages
whatsapp/authentication⚠️ Template approval required to reply to inbound messages⚠️ Template approval required to send outbound messages

WhatsApp Template Approval Statuses

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Templates can have the following statuses:

  • Unsubmitted: Indicates that the template has not been submitted to Twilio or WhatsApp for any sort of approval. These templates may still be used in session for some channels and in some WA sessions subject to the WhatsApp approval requirements listed above.
  • Received: Indicates that your template approval request has been received by Twilio. It is not yet in review by WhatsApp.
  • Pending: Indicates that the template is now under review by WhatsApp. Review can take up to 24 hours.
  • Approved: The template was approved by WhatsApp and can be used to notify customers.
  • Rejected: The template has been rejected by WhatsApp during the review process.
  • Paused: The template has been paused by WhatsApp due to recurring negative feedback from end users, typically resulting from "block" and "report spam" actions associated with the template. Message templates with this status cannot be sent to end users.
  • Disabled: The template has been disabled by WhatsApp due to recurring negative feedback from end users or for violating one or more of WhatsApp's policies. Message templates with this status cannot be sent to end users.

The following parameters are used as an array in the "Actions" parameter of twilio/quick-reply, twilio/call-to-action, and twilio/card content types.

Actions

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Parameter: type

  • Type: string (enum)

  • Required: yes

  • Variable Support: no

  • Description: The type of action.

    • Call to Action Values: URL, PHONE_NUMBER
    • Quick Reply Value: QUICK_REPLY
    • Card Values: URL, PHONE_NUMBER, QUICK_REPLY
    • whatsapp/authentication: COPY_CODE

Parameter: title

  • Type: string

  • Required:

    • no - whatsapp/authentication
    • yes - all others
  • Variable Support: no - quick_reply buttons on templates for WA business initiated messages. yes - everywhere else

  • Description: Display value for the action. For type QUICK_REPLY, this is the message that will be sent back when the user taps on the button.

    • Maximum 25 characters (WhatsApp)
    • Maximum 20 characters (Facebook)

Parameter: url

  • Type: string
  • Required:
    • yes - URL
    • no - others
  • Variable Support: yes
  • Description: URL to direct to when the recipient taps the button.

Parameter: phone

  • Type: string (enum)

  • Required:

    • yes - PHONE_NUMBER
    • no - others
  • Variable Support: no

  • Description: Phone number to call when the recipient taps the button.

Parameter: id

  • Type: string (enum)

  • Required: no

  • Variable Support: yes

  • Description: Postback payload. This field is not visible to the end user.

    • Maximum: 128 characters

      • For unapproved WA templates in session the max is 256 characters

Parameter: copy_code_text

  • Type: string
  • Required:
    • yes - whatsapp/authentication
    • no - all other templates
  • Variable Support: no
  • Description: Display value for the Copy Code button.