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

# Channels

> Connect your bot to messaging platforms

Channels connect your bots to messaging platforms like Telegram, Slack, Discord, and WhatsApp. Each channel represents a platform-specific configuration that routes messages to and from your bot.

<Frame caption="Empty channels page">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/chatbotplatform/QhGUbEN05MzAjt2K/images/screenshots/03-channels/01_channels_empty.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QhGUbEN05MzAjt2K&q=85&s=3e381a86b3340cb8e5bae3669466b098" alt="Channels overview" width="1920" height="941" data-path="images/screenshots/03-channels/01_channels_empty.png" />
</Frame>

## Overview

A channel is:

* **Platform Connection**: Link to Telegram, Slack, Discord, etc.
* **Webhook Handler**: Receives incoming messages from the platform
* **Message Sender**: Sends bot responses back to users
* **Configuration**: Platform-specific credentials and settings

## Supported Platforms

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Telegram" icon="telegram" href="/bots/channels/telegram">
    Bot API with native typing indicators
  </Card>

  <Card title="Slack" icon="slack" href="/bots/channels/slack">
    Workspace integration with thread support
  </Card>

  <Card title="Discord" icon="discord" href="/bots/channels/discord">
    Guild bots with slash commands (coming soon)
  </Card>

  <Card title="WhatsApp" icon="whatsapp">
    Business API integration (coming soon)
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Creating a Channel

<Steps>
  <Step title="Choose Platform">
    Decide which messaging platform to connect.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Bot/App">
    Create a bot or app on the platform:

    * Telegram: Use [@BotFather](https://t.me/BotFather)
    * Slack: Create app at [api.slack.com/apps](https://api.slack.com/apps)
    * Discord: Create bot at [discord.com/developers](https://discord.com/developers/applications)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Get Credentials">
    Copy the required credentials:

    * Telegram: Bot token
    * Slack: Bot token + signing secret
    * Discord: Bot token + application ID
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure in Platform">
    Create the channel in Chatbot Platform and enter credentials.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test">
    Send a test message to verify the connection works.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Channel Features

### Platform-Specific Capabilities

Different platforms support different features:

| Feature           | Telegram | Slack  | Discord\* | WhatsApp\* |
| ----------------- | -------- | ------ | --------- | ---------- |
| Typing Indicators | Native   | Native | Native    | Native     |
| Thread Support    | No       | Yes    | Yes       | No         |
| Group Chats       | Yes      | Yes    | Yes       | Yes        |
| Media Messages    | Yes      | Yes    | Yes       | Yes        |
| Buttons/Actions   | Yes      | Yes    | Yes       | Yes        |

\*Coming soon

### Webhook Management

Channels use webhooks to receive messages:

1. **Platform Sends Message**: User sends message on platform
2. **Webhook Receives**: Platform forwards to Chatbot Platform webhook
3. **Bot Processes**: Bot handles message and generates response
4. **Response Sent**: Bot sends reply back through platform API

Webhooks are configured automatically when you create a channel.

## Multi-Channel Bots

A single bot can connect to multiple channels:

```
Bot: "Customer Support Bot"
  ├─ Channel: Telegram
  ├─ Channel: Slack
  └─ Channel: Discord
```

Benefits:

* Unified bot logic across platforms
* Single integration configuration
* Centralized management
* Consistent user experience

Each channel maintains separate conversations and context.

## Channel Settings

Configure these per channel:

| Setting     | Description                    | Default  |
| ----------- | ------------------------------ | -------- |
| Platform    | Telegram, Slack, Discord, etc. | Required |
| Credentials | API tokens and keys            | Required |
| Webhook URL | Auto-generated by platform     | Auto     |
| Status      | Active or disabled             | Active   |

## Testing Channels

After setting up a channel:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Verify Connection">
    Check that channel status shows "Connected" or "Active".
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send Test Message">
    Send a message to the bot on the platform.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check Response">
    Verify the bot responds correctly.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review Logs">
    Check conversation history to see the message was received.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Troubleshooting

### Channel Not Receiving Messages

**Check**:

* Webhook URL is correctly configured on platform
* Bot/app has required permissions
* Platform credentials are valid
* Channel is enabled (not disabled)

### Bot Not Responding

**Check**:

* Bot has active integration
* Integration is working (test manually)
* No timeout errors in logs
* Bot is connected to correct channel

### Webhook Errors

**Common Issues**:

* Invalid signature (Slack)
* Webhook URL changed
* SSL certificate issues
* Firewall blocking requests

## Security

<Callout type="info">
  Chatbot Platform validates all incoming webhook requests using platform-specific verification methods.
</Callout>

### Platform Verification

**Telegram**: Bot token validation
**Slack**: Request signature verification
**Discord**: Application verification

This ensures only legitimate requests from the platform are processed.

## API Access

Manage channels programmatically using the API.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Create a channel via API">
    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="cURL">
        ```bash theme={null}
        curl -X POST https://api.chatbotplatform.io/v1/bots/bot_123/channels \
          -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
          -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
          -d '{
            "platform": "telegram",
            "credentials": {
              "bot_token": "123456789:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrsTUVwxyz"
            }
          }'
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="JavaScript">
        ```javascript theme={null}
        const response = await fetch('https://api.chatbotplatform.io/v1/bots/bot_123/channels', {
          method: 'POST',
          headers: {
            'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
            'Content-Type': 'application/json'
          },
          body: JSON.stringify({
            platform: 'telegram',
            credentials: {
              bot_token: '123456789:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrsTUVwxyz'
            }
          })
        });
        const data = await response.json();
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="PHP">
        ```php theme={null}
        $response = Http::withToken('YOUR_API_KEY')
            ->post('https://api.chatbotplatform.io/v1/bots/bot_123/channels', [
                'platform' => 'telegram',
                'credentials' => [
                    'bot_token' => '123456789:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrsTUVwxyz'
                ]
            ]);

        $channel = $response->json();
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Python">
        ```python theme={null}
        response = requests.post(
            'https://api.chatbotplatform.io/v1/bots/bot_123/channels',
            headers={'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'},
            json={
                'platform': 'telegram',
                'credentials': {
                    'bot_token': '123456789:ABCdefGHIjklMNOpqrsTUVwxyz'
                }
            }
        )
        channel = response.json()
        ```
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="List bot channels">
    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="cURL">
        ```bash theme={null}
        curl https://api.chatbotplatform.io/v1/bots/bot_123/channels \
          -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="JavaScript">
        ```javascript theme={null}
        const response = await fetch('https://api.chatbotplatform.io/v1/bots/bot_123/channels', {
          headers: {
            'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'
          }
        });
        const { data } = await response.json();
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="PHP">
        ```php theme={null}
        $response = Http::withToken('YOUR_API_KEY')
            ->get('https://api.chatbotplatform.io/v1/bots/bot_123/channels');

        $channels = $response->json('data');
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Python">
        ```python theme={null}
        response = requests.get(
            'https://api.chatbotplatform.io/v1/bots/bot_123/channels',
            headers={'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'}
        )
        channels = response.json()['data']
        ```
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Delete a channel">
    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="cURL">
        ```bash theme={null}
        curl -X DELETE https://api.chatbotplatform.io/v1/channels/ch_123 \
          -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="JavaScript">
        ```javascript theme={null}
        await fetch('https://api.chatbotplatform.io/v1/channels/ch_123', {
          method: 'DELETE',
          headers: {
            'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'
          }
        });
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="PHP">
        ```php theme={null}
        Http::withToken('YOUR_API_KEY')
            ->delete('https://api.chatbotplatform.io/v1/channels/ch_123');
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Python">
        ```python theme={null}
        requests.delete(
            'https://api.chatbotplatform.io/v1/channels/ch_123',
            headers={'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'}
        )
        ```
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<Card title="Complete API Reference" icon="code" href="https://app.chatbotplatform.io/openapi">
  View the full API specification with all endpoints, parameters, and response schemas.
</Card>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Telegram Setup" icon="telegram" href="/bots/channels/telegram">
    Connect to Telegram
  </Card>

  <Card title="Slack Setup" icon="slack" href="/bots/channels/slack">
    Integrate with Slack workspaces
  </Card>
</CardGroup>