Interactive Call-to-Action URL Button Messages

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

WhatsApp users may be hesitant to tap raw URLs containing lengthy or obscure strings in text messages. In these situations, send an interactive call-to-action (CTA) URL button message instead. CTA URL button messages allow you to map any URL to a button so you don't have to include the raw URL in the message body.

Request syntax

Use the Messages API to send an interactive CTA URL message.

curl 'https://graph.facebook.com/<API_VERSION>/<WHATSAPP_BUSINESS_PHONE_NUMBER_ID>/messages' \  
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \  
-H 'Authorization: Bearer <ACCESS_TOKEN>' \  
-d '  
{  
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",  
  "recipient_type": "individual",  
  "to": "<WHATSAPP_USER_PHONE_NUMBER>",  
  "type": "interactive",  
  "interactive": {  
    "type": "cta_url",  
  
    <!-- If using document header, otherwise omit -->  
    "header": {  
      "type": "document",  
      "document": {  
        "link": "<ASSET_URL>"  
      }  
    },  
  
    <!-- If using image header, otherwise omit -->  
    "header": {  
      "type": "image",  
      "image": {  
        "link": "<ASSET_URL>"  
      }  
    },  
  
    <!-- If using text header, otherwise omit -->  
    "header": {  
      "type": "text",  
      "text": "<HEADER_TEXT>"  
      }  
    },  
  
    <!-- If using video header, otherwise omit -->  
    "header": {  
      "type": "video",  
      "video": {  
        "link": "<ASSET_URL>"  
      }  
    },  
  
    "body": {  
      "text": "<BODY_TEXT>"  
    },  
    "action": {  
      "name": "cta_url",  
      "parameters": {  
        "display_text": "<BUTTON_LABEL_TEXT>",  
        "url": "<BUTTON_URL>"  
      }  
    },  
  
    <!-- If using footer text, otherwise omit -->  
    "footer": {  
      "text": "<FOOTER_TEXT>"  
    }  
  }  
}'

Request parameters

Placeholder	Description	Example Value
<ACCESS_TOKEN> String	Required. System token or business token.	EAAA...
<API_VERSION> String	Optional. Graph API version.	v25.0
<ASSET_URL> String	Required if using a header with a media asset. Asset URL on a public server.	https://www.luckyshrub.com/assets/lucky-shrub-banner-logo-v1.png
<BODY_TEXT> String	Required. Body text. URLs are automatically hyperlinked. Maximum 1024 characters.	Tap the button below to see available dates.
<BUTTON_LABEL_TEXT> String	Required. Button label text. Must be unique if using multiple buttons. Maximum 20 characters.	See Dates
<BUTTON_URL>	Required. URL to load in the device's default web browser when the WhatsApp user taps the button.	https://www.luckyshrub.com?clickID=kqDGWd24Q5TRwoEQTICY7W1JKoXvaZOXWAS7h1P76s0R7Paec4
<FOOTER_TEXT> String	Required if using a footer. Footer text. URLs are automatically hyperlinked. Maximum 60 characters.	Dates subject to change.
<HEADER_TEXT> String	Required if using a text header. Header text. Maximum 60 characters.	New workshop dates announced!
<WHATSAPP_BUSINESS_PHONE_NUMBER_ID> String	Required. WhatsApp business phone number ID.	106540352242922
<WHATSAPP_USER_PHONE_NUMBER> String	Required. WhatsApp user phone number.	+16505551234

Example request

curl 'https://graph.facebook.com/v25.0/106540352242922/messages' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer EAAJB...' \
-d '
{
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",
  "recipient_type": "individual",
  "to": "+16505551234",
  "type": "interactive",
  "interactive": {
    "type": "cta_url",
    "header": {
      "type": "image",
      "image": {
        "link": "https://www.luckyshrub.com/assets/lucky-shrub-banner-logo-v1.png"
      }
    },
    "body": {
      "text": "Tap the button below to see available dates."
    },
    "action": {
      "name": "cta_url",
      "parameters": {
        "display_text": "See Dates",
        "url": "https://www.luckyshrub.com?clickID=kqDGWd24Q5TRwoEQTICY7W1JKoXvaZOXWAS7h1P76s0R7Paec4"
      }
    },
    "footer": {
      "text": "Dates subject to change."
    }
  }
}'

Example response

{  
  "messaging_product": "whatsapp",  
  "contacts": [  
    {  
      "input": "+16505551234",  
      "wa_id": "16505551234"  
    }  
  ],  
  "messages": [  
    {  
      "id": "wamid.HBgLMTY0NjcwNDM1OTUVAgARGBI1RjQyNUE3NEYxMzAzMzQ5MkEA"  
    }  
  ]  
}