Types of interactive messages
WhatsApp Business API supports three main types of interactive messages: reply buttons (up to 3 buttons with short text), list messages (a dropdown menu with up to 10 options organized in sections), and call-to-action buttons (buttons that open a URL or start a phone call).
Reply buttons are ideal for binary or ternary choices. List messages are more powerful for multiple or categorized selections. The customer's response is a predefined ID, not free text, making server-side parsing trivial.
Implementation via API
Interactive messages are sent via the POST /messages endpoint with type 'interactive'. The JSON body specifies the type (button, list, cta_url) and message structure.
When the client taps a button, the webhook receives an 'interactive' event with the selected button_id.
High-impact use cases
Most effective interactive message use cases: appointment booking (select date and time from a list), lead qualification (answer 3 questions with buttons), post-purchase feedback (rate from 1 to 5), self-service menu navigation.
Difference from templates with buttons
Interactive messages sent outside the 24-hour window must be Meta-approved templates. Templates can include CTA buttons (URL or phone) or quick-reply buttons. These differ from free interactive messages you can send during an open conversation window.
