Key takeaways
- Telegram bots are programs that run inside the Telegram app and handle tasks, provide information and automate processes through chat interactions.
- Telegram bots use the “Bot API” to process messages and connect to external services, making them powerful tools for automation.
- Coding a Telegram bot involves registering with BotFather, writing code for basic commands, integrating APIs, and deploying the bot for continuous operation.
- Users should be cautious when using Telegram bots. Always double-check that the correct bot is accessed and avoid sharing personal information to protect security.
Since its launch in 2013, Telegram has evolved into much more than just a messaging app. Known for its speed, security and innovative features, Telegram now serves as a hub for communities and developers alike, especially in the tech and crypto space.
One of the standout features that has fueled Telegram’s rise is its bots, which are automated tools that can perform a variety of tasks within the app.
This Telegram bots guide explores how Telegram bots work and how to build your own.
What are Telegram bots?
Have you ever wished you could stop downloading multiple apps to your phone and have everything in one place? You can have them all within the Telegram app.
Telegram bots can do various things, from providing news updates, tracking your headaches, downloading videos and transcribing audio to text.
Think of them as robots on your phone you can chat with, ask questions, give commands to, and even play games with. Some bots are designed to be fun, while others are more practical and can help you with everyday tasks.
Telegram bots are also a popular tool in the cryptocurrency world. Many crypto exchanges and projects use bots to provide real-time price updates and signals about potential crypto whales on the horizon. Additionally, some bots can manage crypto wallets, send and receive payments and even participate in airdrops.
Did you know? The first Telegram bot was created in 2015. It was a basic echo bot that simply repeated messages it received back to the sender.
How Telegram bots work
Telegram bots are like programs built into Telegram. They are created using the Telegram Bot API, which developers interact with through various programming languages. This application programming interface (API) allows bots to communicate with the Telegram servers and users. In addition to sending messages, bots can connect to external services and perform automated tasks using Telegram Bot API.
When you send a message to a bot:
- It receives and processes your message using its code.
- The bot then uses the data it was built with or accessible resources to determine how to reply.
- The bot can reply you with notifications, text messages, images or a website link.
When it comes to Telegram cryptocurrency bots, users can connect their wallets or external cryptocurrency exchanges via APIs, allowing the bots to perform transactions on users’ behalf.
To start chatting with a Telegram bot:
- Open the Telegram app.
- Type the bot’s username in the app’s search bar.
- Once you find the bot, tap on its name to start a conversation.
- Some bots may require using specific keywords or phrases to trigger responses. For example, you may be asked to type “/” to see a list of available commands or options.
Did you know? Telegram bots are designed with privacy in mind. Although bot interactions aren’t end-to-end encrypted by default, Telegram’s infrastructure ensures that bot interactions are secure and private, protecting user data from unauthorized access.
Use cases for Telegram bots
Customer support with Telegram bots
Customer support bots can streamline the process of assisting customers, reducing the workload on human agents. These bots can quickly and accurately answer common questions, troubleshoot issues, and even process simple requests like order tracking or password resets.
Telegram bots can also be integrated with a company’s knowledge base to provide comprehensive and up-to-date information.
Trading crypto with Telegram bots
Telegram crypto trading bots allow users to perform various trading tasks directly within the messaging app. Telegram trading bots enable users to quickly buy and sell crypto, set up automatic trades for profit or to limit losses, and protect against scams by detecting suspicious activities.
Telegram bots can also allow users to follow successful traders or use multiple wallets to bypass trading limits. Advanced features allow users to make trades when new tokens are available, helping them get the best deals.
Telegram game bot
Telegram bots can offer a diverse range of gaming experiences directly within the messaging app. Whether it’s text-based adventures or quizzes and trivia, users can start interacting with the bot by sending messages or choosing actions through suggested buttons, triggering various game mechanics and challenges.
Community management with Telegram bots
Telegram bots can be invaluable tools for managing online communities. They automate repetitive tasks, moderate discussions and foster engagement among members. By automating routine tasks, community bots free up moderators and administrators to focus on more strategic aspects of community management.
Crypto airdrops with Telegram bots
Telegram bots can help users participate in multiple crypto airdrops and receive free tokens from new projects by guiding them through simple tasks.
A Telegram bot notifies users about new airdrop opportunities and guides them through the steps to participate, such as joining channels or following social media accounts.
E-commerce with Telegram bots
E-commerce bots can enhance customers’ shopping experiences by helping them browse products, find deals and place orders. These bots can also provide personalized recommendations based on customers’ purchase history and preferences.
Additionally, e-commerce bots can handle tasks like order tracking, returns and customer inquiries. By automating tasks, Telegram bots can improve customer satisfaction and increase sales.
Did you know? Telegram bots can be more than just free tools. Some bots offer premium features or additional functionalities for a fee, providing enhanced experiences for users who want more.
Step-by-step guide to creating a Telegram bot
Ready to become a bot-building wizard? This Telegram bot tutorial can guide you through the main steps of the process, from registering with the BotFather to deploying your bot.
Step 1: Setting up a Telegram bot with BotFather
The first step in building a Telegram bot is to get a blessing from the BotFather, a Telegram bot that helps create and manage other bots. To do that:
- Find BotFather by searching for “BotFather” in the Telegram app.
- Start a chat by clicking the “Start” button to initiate a conversation with BotFather.
- Type “/newbot” to create a new bot. You’ll need to choose a name and username for your bot. The username must end with “bot” and will be utilized for sharing and mentions, while the name will be displayed for your bot.
- Follow BotFather’s instructions to receive a message containing your access token.
- Copy your access token to a safe place, as it will be needed in the future. Be careful who you share it with, as it gives full control of your bot.
- Install the telebot package for Telegram API interaction.
- Write a Python script to configure your bot using your API token.
- Open a terminal, navigate to the script’s directory and execute the script.
- Launch Telegram, find your bot and initiate a conversation to test its functionality.
An access token is a unique string of characters that identifies your bot and allows you to interact with it using the Telegram Bot API.
Step 2: Programming a Telegram bot: Basic commands and functions
Once you have created your bot, you need to program it to perform specific tasks. This may involve doing edits in BotFather by clicking “Edit Bot” to start making basic changes.
Telegram bot creation may also involve writing code using a programming language that Telegram supports, such as Python, JavaScript or PHP. Below are some basic commands and functions you can start with.
1. Initiate the code
Telegram bot programming starts with inserting starting details.
The first lines need to define two constants: token and bot username. They also need to include modules for defining types, building the bot application, handling commands and messages and defining context types.
The code would be helpful, provided the “Python-telegram-bot” library is installed and your token and username are correctly set.
2. Receive updates
Command involves setting up your bot to listen for Telegram updates, such as user messages.
These lines define two functions that handle the /start and /help commands. The “@app.command” decorator registers these functions as command handlers.
The corresponding function is called when a user sends one of these commands. The function receives the update object, which contains information about the incoming message and the context object, which provides additional context for the interaction. The function then sends a message to the user using the “send_message” method.
3. Send messages
This function sends a message to a specified chat ID. You can call this function from other parts of your code to send messages to users.
4. Start the bot
Create a Telegram bot application with a code using the “Application.builder()” method, providing the bot’s token for identification.
Then, it adds command handlers for the /start, /help and /custom commands. These handlers define the bot’s actions when these commands are received. This allows the bot to respond to user requests and provide specific functionalities based on the commands entered.
Step 3: Advanced Telegram bot features: Integrating APIs and external services
You can integrate your Telegram bot with external APIs and services to make it more powerful. This allows your bot to access data from other sources and perform more complex tasks.
For example, you can integrate your bot with cryptocurrency price updates. This involves making HTTP requests to the website’s API, analyzing the response and sending the price information to users via Telegram messages.
Step 4: Testing and debugging Telegram bot
Before finalizing your bot, run testing to ensure that it functions as expected and debug to fix any issues that may arise.
- Set up a test environment with a separate test bot and replace the token in your code.
- Use debugging tools like print statements and debuggers to track the flow of your code and identify errors.
- Implement error handling with try-except blocks to handle exceptions and prevent crashes.
Step 5: Deploying your Telegram bot: Best practices
Once you are satisfied with your bot’s performance, you can deploy it to a server where it will be accessible to users 24/7.
To deploy your Telegram bot, you first need to choose a platform like Heroku or AWS. Then, you set up your deployment environment, push your code and trigger the deployment.
Next, you configure the webhook URL with BotFather and make your bot listen for updates on your deployment platform. You can find this address on the platform where you’re keeping your bot.
Finally, to finalize the Telegram bot development, you can test your deployed bot and set up monitoring to track its performance. You can even use another bot for that! Remember to consider security, scalability, error handling and logging when deploying your bot.
Did you know? When programming a Telegram bot, a logging library can be used to capture detailed information about bot interactions and errors for analysis.
Promoting and managing Telegram bot
Developing a Telegram bot is only the first step. However, promotion and management of the product are very important to make it achieve its full potential. Promote your bot on the right social media groups and discussion boards where the target audience is most likely to be found.
Engaging with your audience through polls or other interactive features can foster a sense of community and loyalty.
Did you know? Using relevant hashtags and keywords in your bot’s description and posts can significantly increase its discoverability on Telegram’s search function.
Safety concerns when using Telegram bots
Even though Telegram was designed to protect user data, Telegram bots might collect and store sensitive user data, which could be misused or leaked.
Cybercriminals can use bots to spread fake news, post spam content, or use them as a tool to perform phishing. Also, bots can take advantage of any existing flaws in Telegram’s API or any third-party libraries used in the application.
To minimize the risks, users should not provide their personal details to bots and should not communicate with bots that seem shady. Telegram bot developers should prioritize security and follow the platform guidelines to ensure user safety.
Written by Tobias Vilkenson