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WAHA: A Click-Configurable WhatsApp HTTP API for Builders Who Want Speed
If you’ve ever tried to wire up WhatsApp into your product, you know the usual pain: brittle browser automations, home-rolled WebSocket servers, flaky sessions, and an endless pile of glue code. WAHA (WhatsApp HTTP API) flips that script. It gives you a clean REST API for sending/receiving messages, managing sessions, handling webhooks, and working with media — backed by three interchangeable engines so you can choose the runtime that fits your workload:
- WEBJS — Browser-based (WhatsApp Web automation).
- NOWEB — Node.js WebSocket engine (no browser).
- GOWS — Go WebSocket engine (lightweight and fast).
You can get WAHA running in minutes, swap engines with an env variable, and scale from a hobby bot to a production inbox without rewriting your app. This guide explains what WAHA is, why each engine exists, and how to run, use, and operate it like a pro.
Legal & ethical note: Use WAHA only with accounts you own and with recipients who have opted in. Respect WhatsApp’s Terms of Service and platform policies. For high-volume or regulated use cases, evaluate the official Business Platform.
