Templates step by step

This guide explains how to structure a WhatsApp template using the BSP API, from basic components to buttons and variables.

Template structure

A template is made up of up to one HEADER, a BODY (required), a FOOTER and a BUTTONS component:

Component	Required	Max
`HEADER`	No	1
`BODY`	Yes	1
`FOOTER`	No	1
`BUTTONS`	No	1 (up to 10 buttons)

Category	Usage
`MARKETING`	Promotions, offers, announcements
`UTILITY`	Order confirmations, receipts, notifications
`AUTHENTICATION`	OTP codes, verification

Basic example: text with variable

{
  "name": "welcome_message",
  "language": "es",
  "category": "MARKETING",
  "components": [
    {
      "type": "BODY",
      "text": "¡Hola {{1}}! Welcome to Chattigo.",
      "example": {
        "body_text": [["Juan"]]
      }
    }
  ]
}

Every variable ({{1}}, {{name}}) requires the example field with sample values. Without it, Meta rejects the template.

Parameter formats

Format	Syntax	Example
`positional` (default)	`{{1}}`, `{{2}}`	`"example": {"body_text": [["val1", "val2"]]}`
`named`	`{{first_name}}`	`"example": {"body_text_named_params": [{"param_name": "first_name", "example": "Pablo"}]}`

Full example: header + body + footer + buttons

{
  "name": "order_status",
  "language": "es",
  "category": "UTILITY",
  "components": [
    {
      "type": "HEADER",
      "format": "TEXT",
      "text": "Your order {{1}}",
      "example": { "header_text": ["#12345"] }
    },
    {
      "type": "BODY",
      "text": "Your order was shipped and will arrive on {{1}}.",
      "example": { "body_text": [["Friday 20th"]]
      }
    },
    { "type": "FOOTER", "text": "Thank you for shopping at Chattigo Store." },
    {
      "type": "BUTTONS",
      "buttons": [
        {
          "type": "URL",
          "text": "Track order",
          "url": "https://store.example.com/track/{{1}}",
          "example": ["12345"]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Button types

Type	Max	Notes
`QUICK_REPLY`	10	Max 25 characters of text
`URL`	2	Max 2000 characters of URL
`PHONE_NUMBER`	1	Max 20 characters of phone
`COPY_CODE`	1	Requires `example` with the code
`VOICE_CALL`	1	—
`OTP`	1	`AUTHENTICATION` only, with `otp_type`
`MPM`	1	Multi-product, with catalog
`SPM`	1	Single product
`FLOW`	1	WhatsApp Flows
`CATALOG`	1	Product catalog
`REQUEST_CONTACT_INFO`	1	Requests the user’s number, no `text` or `example`

QUICK_REPLY buttons must be grouped together, not interleaved with other types. For example, [URL, PHONE, QR, QR] is valid; [QR, URL, QR] is not.

Text limits

Component	Max
`HEADER` TEXT	60 characters
`BODY`	1024 characters
`FOOTER`	60 characters
Template name	512 characters (lowercase + underscore)

Pre-create checklist

The category matches the message content.
The language code is valid (es, en_US, pt_BR…).
The name uses lowercase, alphanumeric and underscores.
The BODY is present and does not exceed 1024 characters.
Every variable has its example field populated.
URL buttons with variables have example populated.
COPY_CODE has example with the code.
Media header: the handler was already uploaded (example.header_handle).
No QUICK_REPLY mixed with other types in the same group.

Webhooks