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Catalog messages | Developer Documentation

Catalog messages

Updated: Mar 3, 2026
Catalog messages let you showcase your product catalog entirely within WhatsApp.
Catalog messages display a product thumbnail header image of your choice, custom body text, a fixed text header, a fixed text sub-header, and a View catalog button.
Catalog message example showing View catalog button
When a customer taps the View catalog button, your product catalog appears within WhatsApp.
Product catalog displayed within WhatsApp

Requirements

Request syntax

Use the WhatsApp Business Phone Number > Messages endpoint to send a catalog message.
POST /<WHATSAPP_BUSINESS_PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/messages

Post body

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "recipient_type": "individual",
  "to": "<TO>",
  "type": "interactive",
  "interactive" : {
    "type" : "catalog_message",
    "body" : {
      "text": "<BODY_TEXT>"
    },
    "action": {
      "name": "catalog_message",

      /* Parameters object is optional */
      "parameters": {
        "thumbnail_product_retailer_id": "<THUMBNAIL_PRODUCT_RETAILER_ID>"
      }
    },

    /* Footer object is optional */
    "footer": {
      "text": "<FOOTER_TEXT>"
  }
}

Properties

Placeholder Description Sample Value
<BODY_TEXT>
String
Required.

Text to appear in the message body.

Maximum 1024 characters.
Hello! Thanks for your interest. Ordering is easy. Just visit our catalog and add items to purchase.
<FOOTER_TEXT>
String
Optional.

Text to appear in the message footer.

Maximum 60 characters.
Best grocery deals on WhatsApp!
<THUMBNAIL_PRODUCT_RETAILER_ID>
String
Optional.

Item SKU number. Labeled as Content ID in the Commerce Manager.

The thumbnail of this item will be used as the message’s header image.

If the parameters object is omitted, the product image of the first item in your catalog will be used.
2lc20305pt
<TO>
String
Customer phone number.
+16505551234

Example request

curl 'https://graph.facebook.com/v17.0/106540352242922/messages' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer EAAJB...' \
-d '
{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "recipient_type": "individual",
  "to": "+16505551234",
  "type": "interactive",
  "interactive": {
    "type": "catalog_message",
    "body": {
      "text": "Hello! Thanks for your interest. Ordering is easy. Just visit our catalog and add items to purchase."
    },
    "action": {
      "name": "catalog_message",
      "parameters": {
        "thumbnail_product_retailer_id": "2lc20305pt"
      }
    },
    "footer": {
      "text": "Best grocery deals on WhatsApp!"
    }
  }
}'

Example response

{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "contacts": [
    {
      "input": "+16505551234",
      "wa_id": "16505551234"
    }
  ],
  "messages": [
    {
      "id": "wamid.HBgLMTY1MDM4Nzk0MzkVAgARGBI0ODVEREUwQzEzQkVBRjQ1RUUA"
    }
  ]
}