Telegram APIs Answer: API replies in chat

You are building your own Telegram bot and want to see quickly what the Telegram API returns, without opening a console or typing requests by hand. That is why Telegram APIs Answer exists: it shows API responses right in the chat. ⚙️

The bot is aimed at people who create bots and applications connected to the Telegram API. An ordinary user will hardly need it.

What the bot does

The set of commands is small, and each one solves its own task.

• /start: starts and restarts the bot.
• /get: returns a test answer.
• /api: a section about the Telegram API.
• /group: adds the bot to a group.
• /about: information about the bot.
• /score: rate the bot.

If this is your first time with a bot like this, begin with /start, then try /get and compare the result with your own code.

Why a test answer helps

When a bot does not respond, finding the cause takes a while. The token is wrong, the webhook is not set, the request format is off, permissions were not granted. A ready example of a normal API response helps you see where exactly things broke.

1. Get a test answer with /get.
2. Compare its structure with what your code returns.
3. Spot the difference: a field, a type or an error code.
4. Fix the request and check again.

It does not replace the documentation. For a first check, it works.

Starting your own Telegram bot

If you are only planning development, the order is this. You register a bot with Telegram's official bot creator, which hands you a token that your program uses to talk to the server.

Next you pick a programming language and a library. Python, JavaScript, PHP and others have ready wrappers around the Bot API. A first bot usually answers /start and repeats the user's messages.

Token security

A bot token gives full control over the bot. Never publish it in an open repository, send it into chats or show it in screenshots.

• Do not send a token to other bots. Even those that promise to check it or generate code.
• Keep the token in environment variables, not in the program text.
• If a token leaks, reissue it with the bot creator.
• Test with a separate bot, not the production one.

Who this bot is for

Beginner developers, students and hobbyists who need a quick idea check. Experienced programmers will prefer the official documentation and their own tests.

You can add the bot to a group with /group, for example to show a team what an API response looks like.

Common first-run mistakes

Beginners trip over the same few things, and the list is short.

• A typo in the token: an extra space or a lost character while copying.
• The bot is not running: the program stopped while you wait for a reply.
• No rights in the group: the bot is added but cannot read or write messages.
• Wrong data format: the server expects one thing and you send another.

Before hunting for complex causes, check these four points. In most cases the problem sits right there.