To create a working Telegram bot, first register it with @BotFather, then connect software you write to Telegram’s Bot API. BotFather gives the bot an identity and API token; your program supplies its behavior. Telegram’s FAQ puts it plainly: “In order for a bot to work, set up a bot account with @BotFather, then connect it to your backend server via our API.”
What you need before you start
A working bot requires a bot account, a program that connects to Telegram, and somewhere to run that program. Registration by itself does not create a no-code chatbot. Telegram’s FAQ says that making a working bot requires programming skills and a backend connected through the API.
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- A Telegram account to use @BotFather.
- A programming language and a library or framework for the Bot API.
- A small first behavior to implement, such as replying to a command or sending an alert.
Keep the first version narrow. A single predictable action is easier to implement and test than a bot with many commands or stored user data.
Step 1: Register the bot with @BotFather
- Open Telegram and start a chat with @BotFather.
- Send
/newbotand follow the prompts to choose a display name and username. - Save the API token BotFather provides in a secure place. The token authenticates your program as this bot when it calls the Bot API.
Treat the token like a password: do not post it in a public repository, paste it into public chats, or include it in code you share. Telegram’s tutorial says the token can be revoked through @BotFather if it is exposed or needs to be replaced. After revocation, update your program to use the replacement token.
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Step 2: Choose a language and Bot API library
Telegram’s Bot API is accessed through HTTPS requests and returns JSON-encoded responses. For a first project, a library or framework can handle request details so you can focus on the bot’s behavior. Telegram’s Bot API Library Examples directory lists community options by language; it warns, “These projects are not maintained by Telegram.”
Check the chosen project’s own documentation and maintenance status before adopting it. Confirm that its instructions match your language runtime and current Bot API needs. Telegram’s tutorial walks through a Java example and notes equivalent examples for C#, Python, Go, and TypeScript; that walkthrough is not a recommendation to use a particular current library version.
Step 3: Implement one behavior
Configure your chosen library with the bot token, arrange for it to receive updates, and add the action you want to happen. For a first test, implement one simple reply or action in response to an update. The exact code depends on the language and library, so follow that library’s current setup instructions rather than copying an old example without checking its dependencies.
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Keep the token out of source code that could be published. Use the configuration method recommended by your library and deployment environment, and restrict access to the secret to the process that needs it.
Step 4: Choose how the bot receives updates
Telegram supports two ways for your program to receive updates: long polling and webhooks. They are mutually exclusive for a bot: Telegram does not allow getUpdates while an outgoing webhook is configured. Choose one method for a given deployment.
| Method | How updates arrive | Practical fit |
|---|---|---|
| Long polling | Your program repeatedly asks Telegram for updates. | A straightforward option for a first project when your library supports it and you do not want to configure a public webhook endpoint. |
| Webhook | Telegram sends updates to an endpoint you configure. | Use when your deployment can provide an endpoint reachable by Telegram and your software is set up to receive those requests. |
This is an implementation choice, not a performance ranking: the right option depends on your library and the infrastructure you can operate. If you change modes, ensure the old webhook configuration is not preventing polling.
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Step 5: Run the bot and check its response
- Start the program using your library’s current instructions and confirm that it connects with the token.
- Open the bot’s Telegram chat and send the command or message your first behavior handles.
- Check the program’s output or logs to see whether it received the update and attempted the expected action.
- If it does not respond, check that the program is running, the token is valid, the selected update method is configured, and your test message matches the behavior you implemented.
A successful registration only confirms that the bot identity exists. The program must be running and able to receive and handle updates for the bot to respond.
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A program on your own computer is suitable for development, testing, and debugging. It will not keep responding when that computer or program is offline. For a bot expected to remain available, Telegram’s tutorial describes packaging the code and running it on a VPS or equivalent hosting service.
Choose a deployment that fits your runtime and operating needs. Consider how you will keep the program running, monitor failures, manage secrets, and recover it after an interruption. Provider choice and current hosting costs are separate decisions; Telegram’s tutorial establishes the hosting category, not a particular provider or price.
Step 7: Add data storage only when the bot needs it
If the bot must retain user lists, messages, preferences, or other application state, you need to implement and maintain that storage. Telegram does not host an application database for your bot. For a bot that only responds without retaining state, a database may not be necessary.
When persistence is needed, choose storage and serialization practices suited to your language and the data your bot must keep. Plan how to protect access to stored information and how to back it up as part of operating the bot.
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How do I create a Telegram bot with BotFather?
Start a chat with @BotFather, send /newbot, follow the prompts, and securely save the API token it issues. Then connect a program to Telegram’s Bot API; BotFather registration alone does not provide the bot’s behavior.
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