How to Build & Integrate Telegram Bots: Bot Platform 2.0, Inline Queries, Webhooks & Web App Viewports Guide
Automate workflows and deploy full-fledged applications inside your chats. Explore how Telegram's open Bot Platform empowers developers and users with inline query modes, interactive keyboards, automated payments, and seamless HTML5/React Web App mini-programs.
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Official demonstration: Interacting with bots to generate polls, play multiplayer mini-games, and trigger automated inline services.
Zero-Install Services
Interact with e-commerce, banking, games, and AI assistants without downloading separate mobile apps or leaving Telegram.
Universal Inline Mode
Type a bot's username in any chat (e.g. @gif, @vote, @bing) to search, preview, and dispatch rich media inline.
Telegram Mini Apps
Launch responsive Web3 and JavaScript applications directly within Telegram with native authentication and payment APIs.
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DEVELOPER ARCHITECTURE
The MTProto Bot API Pipeline: Webhooks vs Long Polling
Telegram bots operate through a dedicated HTTP-based Bot API gateway that translates low-level encrypted MTProto protocol buffers into standard JSON payloads for developers:
webhook
Zero-Latency Webhook Callbacks: Developers register an HTTPS endpoint via
setWebhook. Telegram's edge servers push user messages and inline queries immediately as HTTP POST requests with TLS cryptographic verification.
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Inline Keyboards & Callback Queries: Interactive buttons carry custom
callback_data strings, allowing instant client-side UI updates and ephemeral toast alerts without spamming the chat transcript.
payments
Native Payments 2.0 Integration: Bots can accept credit card payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and cryptocurrency (TON/Stars) natively with zero commission taken by Telegram.
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Interactive Lab: Bot API Command & Inline Query Simulator
Switch between Command Mode and Inline Mode to experience how Telegram bots process user inputs and render dynamic keyboards.
👋 Welcome to DemoStore Bot! Tap a command or type inline to explore automated services.
Bot API JSON Webhook Payload
Webhook 200 OK
{
"update_id": 892147102,
"message": {
"message_id": 402,
"from": { "id": 1058291, "first_name": "Developer" },
"chat": { "id": 1058291, "type": "private" },
"text": "/catalog"
}
}
Encrypted via MTProto • Processed in 12ms
How to Create Your First Telegram Bot
Get your bot token and deploy automated workflows in under 3 minutes.
1
Chat with @BotFather
Search for @BotFather (the official master bot creator verified with a blue checkmark) and send the
/newbot command.
2
Choose Name & Username
Give your bot a friendly display name (e.g. "Acme Delivery") and a unique username ending strictly in
bot (e.g. acme_delivery_bot).
3
Copy API Token
BotFather will generate your unique HTTP API authentication token. Paste this token into your Python, Node.js, or serverless webhook backend!
Telegram Bot Platform vs Discord & Slack Bots
| Platform | Inline Query Mode | Full HTML5 Web Apps | Native Payments API | Zero-Commission Hosting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telegram Bot Platform | Supported across all chats (@bot query) | Full Web App Viewport (TWA) | Supported (Credit cards, TON, Stars) | 100% Free & Open API |
| Discord Bots | Slash commands only | Activities (Limited SDK) | Monetization fees apply | Server hosting required |
| Slack Apps | Slash commands / Modals | Block Kit webviews only | Third-party integrations only | Enterprise subscription tiers |
Pro Developer Tip: Securing Bot Webhooks with Secret Tokens
When setting up your production webhook via
setWebhook, always pass the secret_token parameter. Telegram will include this token in the X-Telegram-Bot-Api-Secret-Token HTTP header with every update request, guaranteeing that incoming payloads genuinely originate from Telegram and preventing unauthorized spoofing!
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Executive Summary Infographic
Telegram Bot Platform 2.0 Architecture
Click the vertical infographic below to inspect webhook pipelines, inline modes, and Web App viewports.
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