wa.me link
The wa.me link is WhatsApp's official short URL that opens a chat with a specific number: it takes the form wa.me followed by the number in international format without symbols, with an optional pre-filled text parameter. Clicked from a phone it opens the app, from desktop it opens WhatsApp Web, making it instant to start a conversation from websites, emails and social media.
The syntax requires the full number with country code and no plus sign, spaces or dashes, plus the text parameter with the message URL-encoded. The link works anywhere people can click: website buttons, email signatures, Instagram bios, newsletters, SMS. The pre-filled message lowers friction, because the user only has to press send, and doubles as source tracking — it can also trigger keywords and automations on the business side.
When the user sends the first message, the 24-hour customer service window opens and the business gains a contact it can talk to freely. Best practices: a short, already useful pre-filled text, such as a specific request or a campaign code; the link placed behind a clearly labeled button; a QR code generated from the same URL for physical materials. There is also the extended variant api.whatsapp.com, functionally equivalent.
Numbers connected to SendApp work with any wa.me link: the pre-filled message can contain a keyword that triggers automated flows or the AI agent.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
From theory to practice
Everything you read in this glossary can be done with SendApp: try it free, no credit card required.