# Creating message templates with the CreateWhatsAppMessageTemplate API
<a name="create-message-templates-api"></a>

You can create customized WhatsApp message templates using the API. This topic describes how to use the [CreateWhatsAppMessageTemplate](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/social-messaging/latest/APIReference/API_CreateWhatsAppMessageTemplate.html) to create a variety of message templates.

## Message template components
<a name="message-template-components"></a>

 message templates can include the following components:
+ **Header**: Title text that appears at the top
+ **Body**: Main message content with variable placeholders
+ **Footer**: Additional information at the bottom
+ **Buttons**: Clickable elements that link to URLs

In the following examples Replace {{ENDPOINT}} and {{WABA\_ID}} with your actual endpoint URL and ID.

## Create a basic English utility template
<a name="simple-body-only-utility-template"></a>

This example creates a utility message template in English that uses only the `BODY` component, and doesn't include `HEADER`, `FOOTER`, or `BUTTON` components. The body text uses variable placeholders.

```
$ aws socialmessaging create-whatsapp-message-template --region {{us-east-1}} --endpoint-url {{ENDPOINT_URL}} \ 
--id {{WABA_ID}} \ 
--template-definition '{
    "name": "order_update_basic",
    "language": "en_US",
    "allow_category_change": true,
    "category": "UTILITY",
    "components": [
        {
            "type": "BODY",
            "text": "Hi {{1}}, your order #{{2}} has been shipped. Track your delivery below.",
            "example": {
                "body_text": [
                    [
                        "Jane",
                        "12345"
                    ]
                ]
            }
        }
    ]
}'
```

## Create a basic English utility template with button
<a name="utility-template-with-button-example"></a>

This example creates a utility message template in English that includes `BODY` and `BUTTON` components.

```
$ aws socialmessaging create-whatsapp-message-template --region {{us-east-1}} --endpoint-url {{ENDPOINT_URL}} \
--id {{WABA_ID}} \
--template-definition '{
    "name": "order_update_with_button",
    "language": "en_US",
    "allow_category_change": true,
    "category": "UTILITY",
    "components": [
        {
            "type": "BODY",
            "text": "Hi {{1}}, your order #{{2}} has been shipped. Track your delivery below.",
            "example": {
                "body_text": [
                    [
                        "Jane",
                        "12345"
                    ]
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "type": "BUTTONS",
            "buttons": [
                {
                    "type": "URL",
                    "text": "Track Order",
                    "url": "https://example.com/track"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}'
```

## Create a complex English utility message template with a header, body, and button
<a name="utility-template-button-header"></a>

This example creates a utility message template in English that includes `HEADER`,`BODY`, and `BUTTON` components.

```
$ aws socialmessaging create-whatsapp-message-template --region {{us-east-1}} --endpoint-url {{ENDPOINT_URL}} \
--id {{WABA_ID}} \
--template-definition '{
  "name": "account_creation_confirmation_3333",
  "category": "UTILITY",
  "language": "en_US",
  "status": "APPROVED",
  "components": [
    {
      "type": "HEADER",
      "format": "TEXT",
      "text": "Finalize account set-up"
    },
    {
      "type": "BODY",
      "text": "Hi {{1}},\n\nYour new account has been created successfully. \n\nPlease verify {{2}} to complete your profile.",
      "example": {
        "body_text": [
          [
            "John",
            "your email address"
          ]
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "BUTTONS",
      "buttons": [
        {
          "type": "URL",
          "text": "Verify account",
          "url": "https://www.example.com/"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}'
```

## Create a basic marketing message template
<a name="simple-marketing-template"></a>

This example creates a basic marketing message template that includes only a `BODY` component.

```
$ aws socialmessaging create-whatsapp-message-template --region us-east-1 --endpoint-url {{ENDPOINT_URL}} \
--id {{WABA_ID}} \ 
--template-definition '{
  "id": "1290345849293233",
  "name": "holiday_special_1395238",
  "category": "MARKETING",
  "language": "en_US",
  "status": "PENDING",
  "components": [
    {
      "type": "BODY",
      "text": "Season's Greetings {{1}}!\n\nCelebrate {{2}} with amazing deals up to {{3}} off.\n\nPlus, get free gift wrapping on all orders above $50.",
      "example": {
        "body_text": [
          [
            "Pawan",
            "Christmas",
            "30%"
          ]
        ]
      }
    }
  ],
  "metaTemplateId": "1290345849293233"
}'
```

## Create a complex marketing message template
<a name="full-marketing-template"></a>

This example creates a marketing message template in English that includes `HEADER`,`BODY`, and `BUTTON` components.

```
$ aws socialmessaging create-whatsapp-message-template --region us-east-1 \
--endpoint-url {{ENDPOINT_URL}} \ 
--id {{WABA_ID}} \
--template-definition '{
  "name": "summer_sale_1",
  "category": "MARKETING",
  "language": "en_US",
  "status": "APPROVED",
  "components": [
    {
      "type": "HEADER",
      "format": "TEXT",
      "text": "Summer Sale!"
    },
    {
      "type": "BODY",
      "text": "Hi {{1}}! Get {{2}} off all summer items. Shop now before stock runs out!",
      "example": {
        "body_text": [
          [
            "Alex",
            "20%"
          ]
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "FOOTER",
      "text": "Valid until August 31st"
    },
    {
      "type": "BUTTONS",
      "buttons": [
        {
          "type": "URL",
          "text": "Shop Now",
          "url": "https://example.com/sale"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}'
```