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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteTo add interactive buttons to a Telegram bot message in PHP, send the message with a reply_markup object containing an inline_keyboard array. Each nested array is one row of buttons. Use callback_data when the bot should handle a button press, then process the resulting callback query, answer it, and optionally edit the message.
How Telegram inline keyboards are structured
Telegram defines an inline keyboard as an InlineKeyboardMarkup object. Its inline_keyboard property is an array of button rows, and each row is an array of InlineKeyboardButton objects. In PHP, nested associative arrays map naturally to this structure. See Telegram’s inline keyboard structure and Bot API reference.
Each button needs visible text and one action field. A callback_data button sends data to your bot when tapped; a url button opens a link in the user’s client. Telegram documents other action types, including Mini App buttons, with availability restrictions; consult the current Bot API before using them.
Do not confuse inline keyboards with reply keyboards. Inline buttons are attached to a message and can invoke a bot callback without posting an ordinary text reply. Reply keyboards instead offer suggested replies in the chat’s input interface. Telegram explains the distinction in its keyboards documentation.
#1 Best Overall
Build and send a message with buttons
The example below creates two rows: one bot-handled action and one link action. Replace the example URL and connect the JSON request to your existing Bot API HTTP helper.
<?php
$keyboard = [
'inline_keyboard' => [
[
['text' => 'Show details', 'callback_data' => 'details'],
['text' => 'Open guide', 'url' => 'https://example.com/guide'],
],
[
['text' => 'Next', 'callback_data' => 'next'],
],
],
];
$params = [
'chat_id' => $chatId,
'text' => 'Choose an action:',
'reply_markup' => $keyboard,
];
$json = json_encode($params, JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR);
// POST $json to the Telegram Bot API sendMessage method.
Telegram accepts Bot API method parameters as JSON as well as other supported request formats. Its request documentation describes the supported formats, and the official PHP Hellobot sample demonstrates JSON encoding in a webhook-oriented PHP implementation. The sample is an implementation example, not a requirement to adopt its architecture.
Rank #2
Keep callback payloads short and meaningful
Telegram limits callback_data to 1–64 bytes. Count encoded bytes rather than assuming a character count, especially if payloads contain non-ASCII text. Use compact identifiers such as details or next, not arbitrary user input, credentials, or sensitive state. The Bot API specifies the limit in its InlineKeyboardButton definition.
Maintain a stable mapping from these identifiers to application actions on the server. The callback value tells your code which route to consider; it does not establish that the sender is allowed to perform that action.
Process callback queries safely
When a user taps a callback button, Telegram sends a callback query in an update. Your update handler should distinguish callback queries from ordinary messages, check that expected fields exist, and route the callback’s data through application logic. Telegram documents callback queries and the answer and edit methods in the Bot API.
- Parse and validate the update. Decode the incoming JSON with error handling. Check whether the update contains a
callback_queryor amessage; validate the fields your handler needs before using them. - Authorize the requested action. Resolve the callback identifier through your server-side mapping, then check the user and current application state. Reject unknown identifiers and actions the user is not permitted to take.
- Answer the callback query. Call
answerCallbackQueryusing the callback query’s ID. This lets the Telegram client stop displaying its progress indicator; provide a short notification when useful. - Update the interaction. If the action changes a menu or its state, call an edit method such as
editMessageTextoreditMessageReplyMarkupfor the existing message. Use a new message instead when a separate conversational step is clearer.
Telegram notes that editing messages is useful for messages with inline keyboards. Editing keeps navigation in place rather than adding a new chat message for each menu state. See the Bot API methods for updating messages.
Rank #4
Protect a PHP webhook
If Telegram delivers updates to a PHP webhook, treat the endpoint as an input boundary: reject malformed payloads, validate the request against your configured webhook protection, and keep the bot token out of public code and logs. Telegram’s Bot FAQ recommends using a secret path in the webhook URL to help verify that requests came from Telegram. Read the webhook verification guidance and choose a secret, unguessable path for your deployment.
The official PHP sample demonstrates webhook-oriented request handling, but a webhook is not the only possible architecture. Whatever transport you use, ensure that only valid updates reach the handler and that authorization decisions are made by your application.
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