---
title: "Templates"
description: "Messages you save once and send again, on SMS and WhatsApp."
url: "https://docs.goomzo.africa/docs/developers/templates"
docs_index: /llms.txt
lastUpdated: 2026-11-12
section: "Templates"
related:
  - /docs/developers/templates/create
  - /docs/developers/templates/authentication
---

> For an index of all documentation, see [/llms.txt](https://docs.goomzo.africa/llms.txt). Any page is also available as Markdown by adding .md to its URL.

# Templates

> Messages you save once and send again, on SMS and WhatsApp.

A template is a message you save once and send again, filled in for each person. Every template has a name, a
channel and a category. Your system sends one by name, with [Send templates](https://docs.goomzo.africa/docs/developers/messages/templates?utm_source=llms&utm_medium=ai).

## Channels

- **SMS templates** are yours: saved in Goomzo and ready at once.
- **WhatsApp templates** are reviewed by Meta. Goomzo submits the ones you write, syncs the ones on your WhatsApp
  account, and sends only approved ones.

## Categories

| Category         | For                                                   |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| `marketing`      | Offers, news and anything that promotes.              |
| `utility`        | Updates someone needs, such as an order or a booking. |
| `authentication` | One-time codes.                                       |

On WhatsApp, the category is Meta's and decides the price. Meta can move a template it judges wrong:
`categoryChange` says so before it happens.

## The template object

```json
{
  "id": "tpl_4hq2v9n1c8x0t6pk",
  "name": "auth_1",
  "channel": "sms",
  "category": "authentication",
  "content": { "text": "Hi {{name|there}}, your code is {{secret.code}}." },
  "whatsapp": null,
  "variables": [{ "key": "code", "private": true }],
  "problem": null
}
```

| Field       | Description                                                                                            |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `content`   | _Object or null._ What an SMS template says. `null` for WhatsApp.                                      |
| `whatsapp`  | _Object or null._ The WhatsApp template it sends: `name`, `language`, and the `values` for its blanks. |
| `variables` | _Array._ What your system passes when it sends it. `private` ones are masked once sent.                |
| `problem`   | _String or null._ Why it can't be sent now, such as a WhatsApp template still in review.               |

## Endpoints

| Request                      | Does                                                          |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `GET /v1/templates`          | Lists your templates, by `channel` or `category`.             |
| `POST /v1/templates`         | Saves a template.                                             |
| `GET /v1/templates/{id}`     | Gets one.                                                     |
| `PATCH /v1/templates/{id}`   | Changes one.                                                  |
| `DELETE /v1/templates/{id}`  | Deletes one.                                                  |
| `GET /v1/whatsapp/templates` | Lists the templates on your WhatsApp account, as last synced. |

## Next steps

- [Create templates](https://docs.goomzo.africa/docs/developers/templates/create?utm_source=llms&utm_medium=ai)
- [Authentication templates](https://docs.goomzo.africa/docs/developers/templates/authentication?utm_source=llms&utm_medium=ai)
- [Placeholders](https://docs.goomzo.africa/docs/help/placeholders?utm_source=llms&utm_medium=ai)

---

For an index of all available documentation, see [/llms.txt](https://docs.goomzo.africa/llms.txt)