Telegram Bot API

Access the Telegram Bot API with managed authentication. Send messages, photos, polls, locations, and more through your Telegram bot.

Quick Start

# Get bot info
python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://api.maton.ai/telegram/:token/getMe')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Base URL

https://api.maton.ai/telegram/:token/{method}

The :token placeholder is automatically replaced with your bot token from the connection configuration. The {method} is the Telegram Bot API method name (e.g., sendMessage, getUpdates).

Authentication

All requests require the Maton API key in the Authorization header:

Authorization: Bearer $MATON_API_KEY

Environment Variable: Set your API key as MATON_API_KEY:

export MATON_API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"

Getting Your API Key

1. Sign in or create an account at maton.ai
2. Go to maton.ai/settings
3. Copy your API key

Connection Management

Manage your Telegram bot connections at https://api.maton.ai.

List Connections

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://api.maton.ai/connections?app=telegram&status=ACTIVE')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Create Connection

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
data = json.dumps({'app': 'telegram'}).encode()
req = urllib.request.Request('https://api.maton.ai/connections', data=data, method='POST')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Get Connection

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://api.maton.ai/connections/{connection_id}')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Response:

{
  "connection": {
    "connection_id": "{connection_id}",
    "status": "ACTIVE",
    "creation_time": "2026-02-07T10:37:21.053942Z",
    "last_updated_time": "2026-02-07T10:37:59.881901Z",
    "url": "https://connect.maton.ai/?session_token=...",
    "app": "telegram",
    "metadata": {}
  }
}

Open the returned url in a browser to complete the bot token configuration.

Delete Connection

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://api.maton.ai/connections/{connection_id}', method='DELETE')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Specifying Connection

If you have multiple Telegram connections (multiple bots), specify which one to use with the Maton-Connection header:

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://api.maton.ai/telegram/:token/getMe')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Maton-Connection', '{connection_id}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

If you have multiple connections, always include this header to ensure requests go to the intended account.

Security & Permissions

• Access is scoped to messages, chats, media, and bot commands within the connected Telegram Bot API account.
• All write operations require explicit user approval. Before executing any create, update, or delete call, confirm the target resource and intended effect with the user.

API Reference

Bot Information

Get Bot Info

GET /telegram/:token/getMe

Returns information about the bot.

Response:

{
  "ok": true,
  "result": {
    "id": 8523474253,
    "is_bot": true,
    "first_name": "Maton",
    "username": "maton_bot",
    "can_join_groups": true,
    "can_read_all_group_messages": true,
    "supports_inline_queries": true
  }
}

Getting Updates

Get Updates (Long Polling)

POST /telegram/:token/getUpdates
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "limit": 100,
  "timeout": 30,
  "offset": 625435210
}

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
offset	Integer	No	First update ID to return
limit	Integer	No	Number of updates (1-100, default 100)
timeout	Integer	No	Long polling timeout in seconds
allowed_updates	Array	No	Update types to receive

Get Webhook Info

GET /telegram/:token/getWebhookInfo

Set Webhook

POST /telegram/:token/setWebhook
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "url": "https://example.com/webhook",
  "allowed_updates": ["message", "callback_query"],
  "secret_token": "your_secret_token"
}

Delete Webhook

POST /telegram/:token/deleteWebhook
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "drop_pending_updates": true
}

Sending Messages

Send Text Message

POST /telegram/:token/sendMessage
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "text": "Hello, World!",
  "parse_mode": "HTML"
}

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
chat_id	Integer/String	Yes	Target chat ID or @username
text	String	Yes	Message text (1-4096 characters)
parse_mode	String	No	HTML, Markdown, or MarkdownV2
reply_markup	Object	No	Inline keyboard or reply keyboard
reply_parameters	Object	No	Reply to a specific message

With HTML Formatting:

POST /telegram/:token/sendMessage
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "text": "<b>Bold</b> and <i>italic</i> with <a href=\"https://example.com\">link</a>",
  "parse_mode": "HTML"
}

With Inline Keyboard:

POST /telegram/:token/sendMessage
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "text": "Choose an option:",
  "reply_markup": {
    "inline_keyboard": [
      [
        {"text": "Option 1", "callback_data": "opt1"},
        {"text": "Option 2", "callback_data": "opt2"}
      ],
      [
        {"text": "Visit Website", "url": "https://example.com"}
      ]
    ]
  }
}

Send Photo

POST /telegram/:token/sendPhoto
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "photo": "https://example.com/image.jpg",
  "caption": "Image caption"
}

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
chat_id	Integer/String	Yes	Target chat ID
photo	String	Yes	Photo URL or file_id
caption	String	No	Caption (0-1024 characters)
parse_mode	String	No	Caption parse mode

Send Document

POST /telegram/:token/sendDocument
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "document": "https://example.com/file.pdf",
  "caption": "Document caption"
}

Send Video

POST /telegram/:token/sendVideo
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "video": "https://example.com/video.mp4",
  "caption": "Video caption"
}

Send Audio

POST /telegram/:token/sendAudio
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "audio": "https://example.com/audio.mp3",
  "caption": "Audio caption"
}

Send Location

POST /telegram/:token/sendLocation
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "latitude": 37.7749,
  "longitude": -122.4194
}

Send Contact

POST /telegram/:token/sendContact
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "phone_number": "+1234567890",
  "first_name": "John",
  "last_name": "Doe"
}

Send Poll

POST /telegram/:token/sendPoll
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "question": "What is your favorite color?",
  "options": [
    {"text": "Red"},
    {"text": "Blue"},
    {"text": "Green"}
  ],
  "is_anonymous": false
}

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
chat_id	Integer/String	Yes	Target chat ID
question	String	Yes	Poll question (1-300 characters)
options	Array	Yes	Poll options (2-10 items)
is_anonymous	Boolean	No	Anonymous poll (default true)
type	String	No	regular or quiz
allows_multiple_answers	Boolean	No	Allow multiple answers
correct_option_id	Integer	No	Correct answer for quiz

Send Dice

POST /telegram/:token/sendDice
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "emoji": "🎲"
}

Supported emoji: 🎲 🎯 🎳 🏀 ⚽ 🎰

Editing Messages

Edit Message Text

POST /telegram/:token/editMessageText
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "message_id": 123,
  "text": "Updated message text"
}

Edit Message Caption

POST /telegram/:token/editMessageCaption
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "message_id": 123,
  "caption": "Updated caption"
}

Edit Message Reply Markup

POST /telegram/:token/editMessageReplyMarkup
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "message_id": 123,
  "reply_markup": {
    "inline_keyboard": [
      [{"text": "New Button", "callback_data": "new"}]
    ]
  }
}

Delete Message

POST /telegram/:token/deleteMessage
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "message_id": 123
}

Forwarding & Copying

Forward Message

POST /telegram/:token/forwardMessage
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "from_chat_id": 6442870329,
  "message_id": 123
}

Copy Message

POST /telegram/:token/copyMessage
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329,
  "from_chat_id": 6442870329,
  "message_id": 123
}

Chat Information

Get Chat

POST /telegram/:token/getChat
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": 6442870329
}

Get Chat Administrators

POST /telegram/:token/getChatAdministrators
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": -1001234567890
}

Get Chat Member Count

POST /telegram/:token/getChatMemberCount
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": -1001234567890
}

Get Chat Member

POST /telegram/:token/getChatMember
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "chat_id": -1001234567890,
  "user_id": 6442870329
}

Bot Commands

Set My Commands

POST /telegram/:token/setMyCommands
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "commands": [
    {"command": "start", "description": "Start the bot"},
    {"command": "help", "description": "Get help"},
    {"command": "settings", "description": "Open settings"}
  ]
}

Get My Commands

GET /telegram/:token/getMyCommands

Delete My Commands

POST /telegram/:token/deleteMyCommands
Content-Type: application/json

{}

Bot Profile

Get My Description

GET /telegram/:token/getMyDescription

Set My Description

POST /telegram/:token/setMyDescription
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "description": "This bot helps you manage tasks."
}

Set My Name

POST /telegram/:token/setMyName
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "name": "Task Bot"
}

Files

Get File

POST /telegram/:token/getFile
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "file_id": "AgACAgQAAxkDAAM..."
}

Response:

{
  "ok": true,
  "result": {
    "file_id": "AgACAgQAAxkDAAM...",
    "file_unique_id": "AQAD27ExGysnfVBy",
    "file_size": 7551,
    "file_path": "photos/file_0.jpg"
  }
}

Download files from: https://api.telegram.org/file/bot<token>/<file_path>

Callback Queries

Answer Callback Query

POST /telegram/:token/answerCallbackQuery
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "callback_query_id": "12345678901234567",
  "text": "Button clicked!",
  "show_alert": false
}

Code Examples

JavaScript

// Send a message
const response = await fetch(
  'https://api.maton.ai/telegram/:token/sendMessage',
  {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.MATON_API_KEY}`,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json'
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      chat_id: 6442870329,
      text: 'Hello from JavaScript!'
    })
  }
);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

Python

import os
import requests

# Send a message
response = requests.post(
    'https://api.maton.ai/telegram/:token/sendMessage',
    headers={'Authorization': f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}'},
    json={
        'chat_id': 6442870329,
        'text': 'Hello from Python!'
    }
)
print(response.json())

Python (urllib)

import urllib.request, os, json

data = json.dumps({
    'chat_id': 6442870329,
    'text': 'Hello from Python!'
}).encode()
req = urllib.request.Request(
    'https://api.maton.ai/telegram/:token/sendMessage',
    data=data,
    method='POST'
)
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
req.add_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
response = json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req))
print(json.dumps(response, indent=2))

Response Format

All Telegram Bot API responses follow this format:

Success:

{
  "ok": true,
  "result": { ... }
}

Error:

{
  "ok": false,
  "error_code": 400,
  "description": "Bad Request: chat not found"
}

Notes

• :token is automatically replaced with your bot token from the connection
• Chat IDs are integers for private chats and can be negative for groups
• All methods support both GET and POST, but POST is recommended for methods with parameters
• Text messages have a 4096 character limit
• Captions have a 1024 character limit
• Polls support 2-10 options
• File uploads require multipart/form-data (use URLs for simplicity)
• IMPORTANT: When piping curl output to jq or other commands, environment variables like $MATON_API_KEY may not expand correctly in some shell environments

Error Handling

Status	Meaning
400	Missing Telegram connection or bad request
401	Invalid or missing Maton API key
429	Rate limited (Telegram limits vary by method)
4xx/5xx	Passthrough error from Telegram Bot API

Troubleshooting: API Key Issues

1. Check that the MATON_API_KEY environment variable is set:

echo $MATON_API_KEY

2. Verify the API key is valid by listing connections:

python <<'EOF'
import urllib.request, os, json
req = urllib.request.Request('https://api.maton.ai/connections')
req.add_header('Authorization', f'Bearer {os.environ["MATON_API_KEY"]}')
print(json.dumps(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(req)), indent=2))
EOF

Troubleshooting: Invalid App Name

1. Ensure your URL path starts with telegram. For example:

• Correct: https://api.maton.ai/telegram/:token/sendMessage
• Incorrect: https://api.maton.ai/:token/sendMessage

Resources

• Telegram Bot API Documentation
• Available Methods
• Formatting Options
• Inline Keyboards
• Bot Commands
• Maton Community
• Maton Support