# WhatsApp Business API

> The WhatsApp Business API, officially the WhatsApp Business Platform, connects a business's WhatsApp number to software instead of the phone app.

Canonical: https://heykiko.io/glossary/whatsapp-business-api
Last updated: 2026-11-05

## What it means

Also called WhatsApp Business Platform, WhatsApp Cloud API.

It lets a team and an AI agent answer from an inbox, send approved template messages to many people and take calls. Meta charges per message.

Meta hosts it as the Cloud API; most businesses connect through a provider rather than building on it themselves.

## Related

- [WABA (WhatsApp Business Account)](https://heykiko.io/glossary/waba)
- [WhatsApp coexistence](https://heykiko.io/glossary/whatsapp-coexistence)
- [Template message](https://heykiko.io/glossary/template-message)
- [WhatsApp 24-hour window](https://heykiko.io/glossary/customer-service-window)
- [WhatsApp Business app vs API](https://heykiko.io/blog/whatsapp-business-app-vs-api)
- [Full glossary](https://heykiko.io/glossary)