# Catalog templates | Developer Documentation

<div id="bkmrk-catalog-templatesupd">## Catalog templates

<div><span>Updated: Mar 3, 2026</span></div><div>This document explains how to create catalog templates. See [Sell Products &amp; Services](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/catalogs-overview-developer-documentation) to learn more about product catalogs and ways to showcase your products.</div><div>Catalog templates are marketing templates that allow you to showcase your product catalog entirely within WhatsApp. Catalog templates display a product thumbnail header image of your choice and custom body text, along with a fixed text header and fixed text sub-header.</div><div>![](https://support2.chatarchitect.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-04/embedded-image-c4tpoqzc.png)</div><div>When a customer taps the **View catalog** button in a catalog template message, your product catalog appears within WhatsApp.</div><div>![](https://support2.chatarchitect.com/uploads/images/gallery/2026-04/embedded-image-mix1ikuq.png)</div><div id="bkmrk-creating-catalog-tem"><div id="bkmrk-creating-catalog-tem-1"><div>### Creating catalog templates

</div></div></div><div id="bkmrk-requirements"><div id="bkmrk-requirements-1"><div>#### Requirements

</div></div></div><div>You must have [inventory uploaded to Meta](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/upload-inventory-to-meta-developer-documentation) in an e-commerce catalog [connected to your WhatsApp Business Account<span>?</span>](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/158662536425974).</div><div id="bkmrk-request-parameters"><div id="bkmrk-request-parameters-1"><div>#### Request parameters

</div></div></div><div><table><thead><tr><th><span>Placeholder </span></th><th><span>Description </span></th><th><span>Sample Value </span></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><div><div>`<BODY_TEXT>`</div><div>*String*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Required.**</div><div>  
Template body text. Variables are supported.</div><div>  
Maximum 1024 characters.</div></div></td><td><div><div>```
Now shop for your favorite products right here on WhatsApp! Get Rs {{1}} off on all orders above {{2}}Rs! Valid for your first {{3}} orders placed on WhatsApp!
```

</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div>`<EXAMPLE_BODY_TEXT>`</div><div>*String (of an array of strings)*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Required if body text uses variables.**</div><div>  
Sample strings to replace variable placeholders in `<BODY_TEXT>` string.</div><div>  
Maximum 1024 characters.</div></div></td><td><div><div>`100`</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div>`<FOOTER_TEXT>`</div><div>*String*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Optional.**</div><div>  
Template footer text. Variables are supported.</div><div>  
Maximum 60 characters.</div></div></td><td><div><div>`Best grocery deals on WhatsApp!`</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div>`<LANGUAGE>`</div><div>*String*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Required.**</div><div>  
Template [language and locale code](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/template-library-developer-documentation).</div></div></td><td><div><div>`en_US`</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div>`<NAME>`</div><div>*String*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Required.**</div><div>  
Template name.</div><div>  
Maximum 512 characters.</div></div></td><td><div><div>`intro_catalog_offer`</div></div></td></tr></tbody></table>

</div><div id="bkmrk-sending-catalog-temp"><div id="bkmrk-sending-catalog-temp-1"><div>### Sending catalog template messages

</div></div></div><div>You can send approved [catalog templates](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/catalog-templates-developer-documentation) in a template message. See [Sell Products &amp; Services](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/catalogs-overview-developer-documentation) to learn more about product catalogs and ways to showcase your products.</div><div id="bkmrk-requirements-3"><div id="bkmrk-requirements-4"><div>#### Requirements

</div></div></div><div>You must have [inventory uploaded to Meta](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/upload-inventory-to-meta-developer-documentation) in an e-commerce catalog [connected to your WhatsApp Business Account<span>?</span>](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/158662536425974).</div><div id="bkmrk-request-parameters-3"><div id="bkmrk-request-parameters-4"><div>#### Request parameters

</div></div></div><div><table><thead><tr><th><span>Placeholder </span></th><th><span>Description </span></th><th><span>Sample Value </span></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><div><div>`<CODE>`</div><div>*String*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Required.**</div><div>  
Template [language and locale code](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/template-library-developer-documentation).</div></div></td><td><div><div>`en_US`</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div>`<NAME>`</div><div>*String*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Required.**</div><div>  
Template name.</div></div></td><td><div><div>`intro_catalog_offer`</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div>`<THUMBNAIL_PRODUCT_RETAILER_ID>`</div><div>*String*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Optional.**</div><div>  
Item SKU number. Labeled as Content ID in the Commerce Manager.</div><div>  
The thumbnail of this item will be used as the message's header image.</div><div>  
If the `parameters` object is omitted, the product image of the first item in your catalog will be used.</div></div></td><td><div><div>`2lc20305pt`</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div>`<TEXT>`</div><div>*String*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Required if template uses variables.**</div><div>  
Template variable.</div></div></td><td><div><div>`100`</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div>`<TO>`</div><div>*String*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Required.**</div><div>  
Customer phone number.</div></div></td><td><div><div>`+16505551234`</div></div></td></tr><tr><td><div><div>`<TYPE>`</div><div>*String*</div></div></td><td><div><div>**Required if template uses variables.**</div><div>  
Template variable type.</div></div></td><td><div><div>`text`</div></div></td></tr></tbody></table>

</div><div id="bkmrk-see-also"><div id="bkmrk-see-also-1"><div>### See also

</div></div></div>
<span>[Sell Products &amp; Services](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/catalogs-overview-developer-documentation)</span><span>[Catalog Messages](/books/meta-whatsapp/page/share-products-with-whatsapp-users-developer-documentation)</span></div>