Send a Location

In this code snippet you learn how to send a location to WhatsApp using the Messages API. This uses Vonage's Custom object feature. Further information on the specific message format can be found in the WhatsApp developers Location message documentation.

Example

Find the description for all variables used in each code snippet below:

KeyDescription
VONAGE_APPLICATION_ID

The Vonage Application ID.

VONAGE_APPLICATION_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH

Private key path.

VONAGE_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH

Private key path.

BASE_URL

For production use the base URL is https://api.nexmo.com/. For sandbox testing the base URL is https://messages-sandbox.nexmo.com/.

MESSAGES_API_URL

There are two versions of the API, each with their own endpoints. For production the previous Messages API endpoint was https://api.nexmo.com/v0.1/messages, the new one is https://api.nexmo.com/v1/messages. For sandbox testing the Messages API endpoint is https://messages-sandbox.nexmo.com/v0.1/messages or https://messages-sandbox.nexmo.com/v1/messages, depending on which version you have set in the sandbox dashboard.

WHATSAPP_NUMBER

The WhatsApp number that has been allocated to you by Vonage. For sandbox testing the number is 14157386102.

VONAGE_WHATSAPP_NUMBER

Refer to WHATSAPP_NUMBER above.

VONAGE_NUMBER

Refer to WHATSAPP_NUMBER above.

TO_NUMBER

Replace with the number you are sending to. E.g. 447700900001

NOTE: Don't use a leading + or 00 when entering a phone number, start with the country code, for example, 447700900000.

Prerequisites

If you do not have an application you can create one. Make sure you also configure your webhooks.

Write the code

Add the following to send-location.sh:

curl -X POST $MESSAGES_API_URL \
     -H 'Authorization: Bearer' $JWT \
     -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
     -d '{
  "message_type": "custom",
  "to": "'$TO_NUMBER'",
  "from": "'$WHATSAPP_NUMBER'",
  "channel": "whatsapp",
  "custom": {
    "type": "location",
    "location": {
      "longitude": -122.425332,
      "latitude": 37.758056,
      "name": "Facebook HQ",
      "address": "1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025"
    }
  }
}'

View full source

Run your code

Save this file to your machine and run it:

bash send-location.sh

Try it out

When you run the code a WhatsApp location message is sent to the destination number. The location appears as a pin on a map within the WhatsApp message window.

Further information