---
title: "Message templates overview"
description: "Understand WhatsApp message template categories, approval flows, variables, and sending rules."
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.wazapin.id/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Message templates overview

Wazapin allows you to send **pre-approved message templates** to customers. Message templates are required when you want to initiate a new conversation or message a customer outside the active [24-hour customer service window](/whatsapp-basics/session-window).

---

## When to use templates

Use templates for business-initiated updates, alerts, and transactional messages:

| Category | Typical use cases | Examples |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Authentication** | One-Time Passwords (OTPs) and account verification. | `"Your verification code is 482910."` |
| **Utility** | Post-purchase notifications, shipping alerts, billing reminders, and updates. | `"Your order #1032 has been shipped! Track it here: {{1}}."` |
| **Marketing** | Promotional offers, newsletters, and welcome messages. | `"Get 20% off our summer collection. Click to claim: {{1}}"` |

---

## Creation and approval flow

Before you can send a template, it must be created and approved by Meta (for official channels).

```mermaid
graph TD
A[Create template in Wazapin dashboard] --> B[Submit to Meta for review]
B --> C{Approved?}
C -->|Yes| D[Status: Approved - Ready to send]
C -->|No| E[Status: Rejected - Modify & resubmit]
```

1. **Create:** Design your template body, define variables (e.g. `{{1}}`, `{{2}}`), and add optional headers (text or media) or interactive buttons.
2. **Review:** Wazapin automatically submits your template to Meta. Review times typically take between a few minutes and a few hours.
3. **Sync:** Once approved, the template status updates to `approved`. You can also synchronize templates programmatically via `POST /v1/templates/sync`.

:::tip
Unofficial channels do not require Meta review. Wazapin will simulate template styling directly, but maintaining proper template design is recommended if you plan to upgrade to official channels later.
:::

---

## Variable substitution

Templates support dynamic components using parameter placeholders (like `{{1}}`). When sending a template via the API, you must pass the exact list of variables corresponding to the placeholders in the order they were defined.

For example, a utility template body:
`Hi {{1}}, your order #{{2}} is ready.`

Requires passing two text parameters:
1. `{{1}}` -> `"Ayu"`
2. `{{2}}` -> `"29420"`

---

## Next steps
- [Authentication & OTP templates](/templates/authentication-otp)
- [Send templates via API](/getting-started/send-template)
- [Channel support (template sync)](/api/channel-support)

Source: https://docs.wazapin.id/templates/overview/index.mdx