Telegram is the most used messaging app in the world after Whatsapp, Facebook, Wechat, and QQ.
It reportedly has more than 550 million monthly active users and is ranked among the top 10 most popular social networks in the world by downloads.
The Telegram API
Telegram provides a seamless, robust, and free messaging API. It allows developers to unleash their unlimited creativity through two modules namely: the Bot API and Telegram Database Library(TDLib).
The Bot API allows developers to connect bots to Telegram while TDLib API enables developers to build their own customized Telegram clients. The bots are special accounts that do not require an additional phone number to set up. These accounts serve as an interface for webhooks hosted on a server.
Over the years, Telegram has diversified its API from just messaging to Payment, Shop, and now the Web App for bots that can replace any site.
Telegram web apps for Bots
It all began when Telegram introduced an in-line keyboard for the Bot API. This enabled developers to push a keypad/menu options dynamically from the backend to the user interface. Each button can have an embedded callback method that communicates with a webhook when clicked.
Now Telegram web apps for bots can virtually replace any website. It supports Telegram shops, seamless authorization, and integrated payments. The supported 15 payment providers exclude Google Pay and Apple Pay. This gives bots a whole new dimension where developers can create infinitely flexible interfaces with JavaScript. It also delivers tailored push notifications to users and much more.
Users can interact with bots using custom keyboards and buttons as well as by sending freeform text messages. They can also send any of the attachment types supported by Telegram: photos and videos, files, locations, contacts, and polls.
For even more flexibility, bots can utilize the full power of HTML5 to create user-friendly input interfaces. To test the Telegram web app, click here to visit their demo shop.
