Send a Location

In this code snippet you learn how to send a location to WhatsApp using the Messages API. This uses Nexmo's Custom object feature. Further information on the specific message format can be found in the WhatsApp developers Location message documentation.

Example

Ensure the following variables are set to your required values using any convenient method:

Key	Description
`BASE_URL`	For production use the base URL is `https://api.nexmo.com/`. For sandbox testing the base URL is `https://messages-sandbox.nexmo.com/`.
`MESSAGES_API_URL`	For production use the Messages API endpoint is `https://api.nexmo.com/v0.1/messages`. For sandbox testing the Messages API endpoint is `https://messages-sandbox.nexmo.com/v0.1/messages`.
`WHATSAPP_NUMBER`	The WhatsApp number that has been allocated to you by Nexmo. For sandbox testing the number is `14157386170`.
`TO_NUMBER`	The phone number you are sending the message to.

NOTE: Don't use a leading + or 00 when entering a phone number, start with the country code, for example, 447700900000.

Prerequisites

Create an application

If you do not have an application you can create one. Make sure you also configure your webhooks.

Write the code

Add the following to send-location.sh:

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curl -X POST $MESSAGES_API_URL \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer' $JWT \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
  "from": {
    "type": "whatsapp",
    "number": "'$WHATSAPP_NUMBER'"
  },
  "to": {
    "type": "whatsapp",
    "number": "'$TO_NUMBER'"
  },
  "message": {
    "content": {
      "type": "custom",
      "custom": {
        "type": "location",
        "location": {
          "longitude": -122.425332,
          "latitude": 37.758056,
          "name": "Facebook HQ",
          "address": "1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}'

View full source

Run your code

Save this file to your machine and run it:

bash send-location.sh

Prerequisites

Create an application

If you do not have an application you can create one. Make sure you also configure your webhooks.

Install dependencies

npm install nexmo@beta

Write the code

Add the following to send-location.js:

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const Vonage = require('@vonage/server-sdk');

const vonage = new Vonage(
    {
        apiKey: VONAGE_API_KEY,
        apiSecret: VONAGE_API_SECRET,
        applicationId: VONAGE_APPLICATION_ID,
        privateKey: VONAGE_APPLICATION_PRIVATE_KEY_PATH,
    },
    {
        apiHost: BASE_URL,
    }
);

vonage.channel.send(
    { type: 'whatsapp', number: TO_NUMBER },
    { type: 'whatsapp', number: WHATSAPP_NUMBER },
    {
        content: {
            type: 'custom',
            custom: {
                type: 'location',
                location: {
                    longitude: -122.425332,
                    latitude: 37.758056,
                    name: 'Facebook HQ',
                    address: '1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025',
                },
            },
        },
    },
    (err, data) => {
        if (err) {
            console.error(err);
        } else {
            console.log(data.message_uuid);
        }
    }
);

View full source

Run your code

Save this file to your machine and run it:

node send-location.js

Try it out

When you run the code a WhatsApp location message is sent to the destination number. The location appears as a pin on a map within the WhatsApp message window.