Webhook API

Introduction
Chatlayer.ai provides a REST JSON API to retrieve, create data and manipulate data from third party applications and a webhook configuration to notify you when a variety of interactions or events happen, including when a bot sends a message. Webhook events are sent by Chatlayer.ai as POST requests to your webhook.
This document describes what can be done, under which conditions and the expected input and output formats and communication mechanism.
Note that the API can easily be tested from any web browser, command line terminal or API development environment.
Building HTTP request
Scheme and hostname
Request must be done with https scheme. Depending on the environment, the API hostname will be: api-staging.chatlayer.ai (staging) or api.chatlayer.ai (production). All API paths are prefixed by /api.
Access token
You must provide an access token on each of your API calls. This access token can be created here. For posting a webhook message the access token is not required and replaced by a verify token that you can configure in the bots settings in Chatlayer.ai together with the webhook configuration url.
User id
A user id or sender id should have at least 32 characters.
Example
We suppose you have an Chatlayer.ai bot instance accessible from https://cms-staging.chatlayer.ai with bot id 11 and an access token with value bot22.
To get all chat messages on the source accessible by the token’s users, you’ll need to build your request with access_token request query with proper value. The HTTP request will look like this:
GET /api/chatMessage/11?access_token=abc42&from=2019-09-11 HTTP/1.1
Host: api-staging.chatlayer.ai
Response
All responses are formatted in JSON using utf-8 encoding. The returned content-type is : application/json; charset=utf-8. Here is an example:
{
 "text": "Hello World",
 "created_at": "2012-05-21T01:19:49Z", "available": true,
 "message_count": 4
}
Chatlayer.ai will retry sending the message 3 times upon receiving a failing HTTP code from your API.
API methods
get
Get Messages by senderId
/api/bots/:botId/history/:senderId
This method gets the messages by senderId. 

Request
Response
Request
Path Parameters
senderId
optional
string
The id of the sender
botId
optional
string
The id of your bot
Query Parameters
access_token
required
string
​
offset
optional
string
The amount of messages to skip
limit
optional
string
The size of the results
Response
200: OK
{
    "rows": [
        {
            "isIntro": false,
            "message": {
                "attachment": {
                    "type": "template",
                    "payload": {
                        "template_type": "button",
                        "text": "button text",
                        "buttons": [
                            {
                                "title": "go to button title",
                                "type": "postback",
                                "payload": "{\"title\":\"go to button title\",\"caption\":\"go to button title\",\"type\":\"button\",\"originalTitle\":\"go to button title\",\"nextDialogstateId\":\"eedeb3df-ffff-46c0-836f-b8534ge4c42b1\",\"parameters\":[{\"order\":0,\"key\":\"location\",\"value\":\"meulebeke\",\"__typename\":\"Parameter\"}]}"
                            },
                            {
                                "title": "URL button",
                                "url": "https://www.google.com",
                                "type": "web_url"
                            },
                            {
                                "title": "tel",
                                "type": "phone_number",
                                "payload": "+32 477 99 00 22"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                }
            },
            "id": "5ddfffd8888c7bf11ebsss14",
            "actor": "bot",
            "createdAt": "2019-11-21T16:48:20.465Z"
        },
        {
            "isIntro": false,
            "message": {
                "text": "quick reply text",
                "quick_replies": [
                    {
                        "title": "go to button",
                        "payload": "{\"title\":\"go to button\",\"caption\":\"go to button\",\"type\":\"quickreply\",\"parameters\":[],\"nextDialogstateId\":\"e38fl4df-kkb1-46c0-836f-b8ffff4c42b1\",\"originalTitle\":\"go to button\"}",
                        "content_type": "text"
                    }
                ]
            },
            "id": "5dd64448988888811eb21a15",
            "actor": "bot",
            "createdAt": "2019-11-21T16:48:20.466Z"
        },
        {
            "isIntro": false,
            "message": {
                "attachment": {
                    "type": "template",
                    "payload": {
                        "template_type": "generic",
                        "elements": [
                            {
                                "title": "title",
                                "image_url": "https://www.chatlayer.ai/image.jpg",
                                "subtitle": "subtitle",
                                "buttons": [
                                    {
                                        "title": "url button test",
                                        "url": "https://www.chatlayer.ai",
                                        "type": "web_url"
                                    }
                                ],
                                "default_action": {
                                    "url": "https://www.chatlayer.ai",
                                    "type": "web_url"
                                }
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                }
            },
            "id": "5dd6kkkkbac7b4444b213kj",
            "actor": "bot",
            "createdAt": "2019-11-21T16:48:20.467Z"
        },
        {
            "isIntro": false,
            "message": {
                "attachment": {
                    "type": "image",
                    "payload": {
                        "is_reusable": false,
                        "url": "https://images.pexels.com/photos/67636/rose-blue-flower-rose-blooms-67636.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&dpr=1&w=500"
                    }
                }
            },
            "id": "5dd6b2229bac74444eb21a17",
            "actor": "bot",
            "createdAt": "2019-11-21T16:48:20.468Z"
        },
        {
            "isIntro": false,
            "message": {
                "text": "ok test123"
            },
            "id": "5dd6bfd89b23456111b21a18",
            "actor": "bot",
            "createdAt": "2019-11-21T16:48:20.469Z"
        }
    ],
    "count": 5
}
get
Get the user session data
/api/sessionData/:botId/:senderId/:namespace
This method can be used to retrieve user session data from a namespace. A namespace is used to save your session data into. You can use this data for interpolation of session variable values in messages, API requests, etc.
Request
Response
Request
Query Parameters
access_token
optional
string
​
Body Parameters
botId
optional
string
The bot ID you want to send the message to
senderId
optional
string
The user's sender ID
namespace
optional
string
The namespace of the variables to get
Response
200: OK
{
  "myAwesomeVar": "myAwesomeValue",
  "myAwesomeVarDeep":  {
    "aa": "bb"
  }
}
​
302: Found
​
Sending User Messages & Receiving Bot messages
Chatlayer.ai provides:
a Webhook message API endpoint to send a user message to the bot
a Webhook configuration to be notified when bot messages are returned as response to a user messages sent to the webhook message API as described in this section. This API is almost realtime and the purpose is to be able to trigger event-based behavior as soon as a bot message response occurs . This way you will be able to integrate the bot flow logic in your own application or message channel.
The overall mechanism is loosely based on Pubsub protocol , and rely on HTTP request containing the bot message response being sent to a consumer Endpoint URL. The customer webhook Endpoint URL can be configured in Chatlayer.ai as described in this section.
post
Sending a user message to the bot
This method sends a user message to the bot. The user message can be a simple text message or a button payload object which represents the state data when a user clicks the button or quick reply. The bot messages that come as a response will be sent to your webhook URL. The button payload is available in the messages received from the bot.
Request
Response
Request
Path Parameters
botId
required
string
​
Body Parameters
verifyToken
required
string
The webhook verify token you should configure in the webhook configuration of the bot settings in Chatlayer.ai.
sender
required
object
The Sender Object
text
required
string
The user text message
Response
200: OK
{
  "text": "hi",
  "sender":  {
    "id": "a7355930-fa92-11e7-8308-2f056e75d1ee"
  },
  "verifyToken": "8wMsLZkdDPT64nqh"
}
No access token is required for this POST request and is replaced by a verify token you should configure in the webhook configuration of the bot settings.
Sender object:
Property
Value
Description
id
string
The user identifier which can be used to identify the user when receiving a bot response on the webhook.
Request format for button click
{
  "text": "{\"params\": [{\"key\": \"userLangSelected\", \"value\": 
          \"en-en\"}], \"nextDialogstateId\": \"3050\", \"type\": \"button\", 
          \"caption\":
           \"Dutch\"}",
  "sender":  {
    "id": "a7355930-fa92-11e7-8308-2f056e75d1ee"
  },
  "verifyToken": "8wMsLZkdDPT64nqh"
}
Text stringified object:
Property
Value
Description
params
array with key/value objects
The key - value configuration settings of the button/quick reply. This data will be saved in to the user session state data when he clicks this button or quick reply.
nextDialogstateId
string
The dialog state to which the user will be navigated after the button/quick reply click
type
string
UI component type (button or quick reply)
caption
string
The button/quick reply caption
Register a webhook API
Add a new channel type webhook in your channel configuration in Chatayer.
Configure both settings
Webhook URL: this URL must either be publicly available, or at least available from Chatlayer.ai’s IP range. We strongly advise to use HTTPS for this endpoint
Verify token: This can be any arbitrary string, but it is recommended to be chosen randomly.
post
Webhook messages
customer webhook endpoint URL configured in Chatlayer.ai
When a user message is sent to the webhook message API, the bot response(s) will be sent to the customer webhook endpoint URL. The bot response body payload object will include the bot message. This message can have a different object structure based on the message type.
Request
Response
Request
​
Response
200: OK
  "recipient": {
    "id": "default-b94215f0-0c7e-11ea-9c43-7174cba76asdfoijadsfoiadsiojadfiojasodijfb12"
  },
  "verifyToken": "eenheeluniekeverifytoken",
  "message": {
    "text": "test tekst message"
  }
post
Asynchronous actions
/api/webview/message
This endpoint can be used to trigger a dialog state, send messages or save session data asynchronously.
A typical use case is an action based on the triggering of a custom component.

Note that for the request to succeed you will have to include either: 
- at least one message in the messages field
- action.nextDialogstate with the id of the dialogstate to trigger.

Request
Response
Request
Body Parameters
senderId
required
string
The user identifier
session
optional
object
Use this to add data to the user session.
action
optional
object
Use this parameter to include a nextDialogstate ID to define where the flow should go next.
messages
optional
array
The bot message object. The object structure depends on the message type. 
See appendix for all message structures.
Response
200: OK
​
​
​
Example request
{
    "senderId": "the senderId of the conversation to act on",
    "session": {
        "namespace": "options",
        "data": {
            "example": true
        }
    },
    "action": {
        "nextDialogstate": "12345"
    },
    "messages": [
        {
            "type": "text",
            "config": {
                "textMessages": [ {"text": "This is a sample text message." } ]
        }
    ]
}
Example request with a carousel
{
    "senderId": "the senderId of the conversation to act on",
    "session": {
        "namespace": "options",
        "data": {
            "example": true
        }
    },
    "action": {
        "nextDialogstate": "12345"
    },
    "messages": [
        {
            "type": "carousel",
            "config": {
                "elements": [
                    {
                        "imageUrl": "https://www.chatlayer.ai/image.jpg",
                        "subTitle": "subtitle",
                        "title": "title",
                        "webUrl": "https://www.chatlayer.ai",
                        "buttons": [
                            {
                                "type": "web_url",
                                "title": "url button test",
                                "url": "https://www.chatlayer.ai"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ]
}
Message objects
Chatlayer.ai bot message send to the customer webhook endpoint URL and returned as response of a user messages can have different object structures depending on the message type. This section describes the different message type object structures.
Text
A text message includes a simple bot text message.
Request format:
{
  "senderId": "a7355930-fa92-11e7-8308-2f056e75d1ee",
  "message":  {
    "text": "Hi, I'm a chatbot"
  },
  "messageCounter": 1,
  "verifyToken": "8wMsLZkdDPT64nqh"
}
Property
Value
Description
text
string
The user test message.
Button Template
A button template includes a simple bot text message and an array of button objects.
Request format:
{
  "senderId": "a7355930-fa92-11e7-8308-2f056e75d1ee",
  "message":  {
    "attachment": {
      "type": "template",
      "payload": {
        "template_type": "button",
        "text": "Hello, in which language can I help you?",
        "buttons": [
          {
            "type": "postback",
            "title": "Nederlands",
            "payload": "{\"params\": [{\"key\": \"userLangSelected\", \"value\": 
                       \"nl-nl\"}], \"nextDialogstateId\": 3050, \"type\": \"button\", 
                       \"caption\": \"Nederlands\"}"
          },
          {
            "type": "postback",
            "title": "English",
            "payload": "{\"params\": [{\"key\": \"userLangSelected\", \"value\": 
                       \"en-us\"}], \"nextDialogstateId\": 3050, \"type\": \"button\", 
                       \"caption\": \"English\"}"
          },
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "messageCounter": 1,
  "verifyToken": "8wMsLZkdDPT64nqh"
}
Message object for button template:
Property
Value
Description
attachment
object
The attachment object.
Attachment object:
Property
Value
Description
type
string
The attachment type (template)
payload
object
The attachment payload object. The object structure depends of the attachment type
Attachment payload object:
Property
Value
Description
template_type
string
The template type (button)
text
string (optional)
The text above the buttons ( only for a button template type)
buttons
array
An array of button objects
Button object:
Property
Value
Description
type
string
The button type (web_url - postback - phone_numberl - element_share)
title
string
The button caption
payload
object (type postback) or string (type phone_number) - optional
The button payload. Only for postback type buttons.
url
string - optional
The button url. Only for url type buttons
Button payload object:
Property
Value
Description
params
array with key/value objects
The key - value configuration settings of the button. This data will be saved in to the user session state data when he clicks this button.
nextDialogstateId
string
The dialog state to which the user will be navigated after the button click
type
string
UI component type (button)
caption
string
The button caption
Quick replies
A quick reply message includes a simple bot text message and an array of quick reply objects.
Request format:
{
  "senderId": "a7355930-fa92-11e7-8308-2f056e75d1ee",
  "message":  {
    "text": "Hello, in which language can I help you?",
    "quick_replies": [
      {
        "content_type": "text",
        "title": "Nederlands",
        "payload": "{\"params\": [{\"key\": \"userLangSelected\", \"value\": 
                   \"nl-nl\"}], \"nextDialogstateId\": 3050, \"type\": \"button\", 
                   \"caption\": \"Nederlands\"}",
        "image_url": "https://domain/logo.png"
      },
      {
        "content_type": "text",
        "title": "English",
        "payload": "{\"params\": [{\"key\": \"userLangSelected\", \"value\": 
                   \"en-us\"}], \"nextDialogstateId\": 3050, \"type\": \"button\", 
                   \"caption\": \"English\"}",
        "image_url": "https://domain/logo.png"
      },
    ]
  },
  "messageCounter": 1,
  "verifyToken": "8wMsLZkdDPT64nqh"
}
Message object for quick replies:
Property
Value
Description
text
string
The text before the quick replies.
quick_replies
array
An array of quick reply objects
Quick reply object:
Property
Value
Description
content_type
string
The quick reply content type (text)
title
string
The button caption
payload
object
The quick reply payload
Quick reply payload object:
Property
Value
Description
params
array with key/value objects
The key - value configuration settings of the quick reply. This data will be saved in to the user session state data when the user clicks this quick reply.
nextDialogstateId
string
The dialog state to which the user will be navigated after the quick reply click
type
string
UI component type ( quickreply)
caption
string
The button/quick reply caption
Generic template
A generic template (carousel) includes a list of generic template elements. The generic template element is a simple structured message that includes a title, subtitle, image, and up to three buttons
Request format:
{
  "senderId": "a7355930-fa92-11e7-8308-2f056e75d1ee",
  "message":  {
    "attachment": {
      "type": "template",
      "payload": {
        "template_type": "generic",
        "elements": [
          {
             "title": "Language",
             "subtitle": "Please set your language",
             "image_url": "https://domain/lang.png",
             "item_url": "https://domain/lang",
             "buttons": [
               {
                 "type": "postback",
                 "title": "Nederlands",
                 "payload": "{\"params\": [{\"key\": \"userLangSelected\", \"value\": 
                            \"nl-nl\"}], \"nextDialogstateId\": 3050, \"type\": \"button\", 
                            \"caption\": \"Nederlands\"}"
               },
               {
                 "type": "postback",
                 "title": "English",
                 "payload": "{\"params\": [{\"key\": \"userLangSelected\", \"value\": 
                            \"en-us\"}], \"nextDialogstateId\": 3050, \"type\": \"button\", 
                            \"caption\": \"English\"}"
               },
            ]
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "messageCounter": 1,
  "verifyToken": "8wMsLZkdDPT64nqh"
}
Message object for generic template:
Property
Value
Description
attachment
object
The attachment object.
Attachment object:
Property
Value
Description
type
string
The attachment type (template)
payload
object
The attachment payload object. The object structure depends of the attachment type
Attachment payload object:
Property
Value
Description
template_type
string
The template type (generic)
elements
array
An array of generic template elements (carousel cards)
Generic template element object:
Property
Value
Description
title
string
The carousel card title
subtitle
string
The carousel card subtitle
image_url
string
The carousel card image
item_url
string
The carousel card url. When the user clicks the image the web page opens in a new browser tab.
buttons
array
An array of button objects
Button object:
Property
Value
Description
type
string
The button type (web_url - postback - phone_numberl - element share)
title
string
The button caption
payload
object (type postback) or string (type phone_number) - optional
The button payload. Only for postback type buttons.
url
string - optional
The button url. Only for url type buttons
Button payload object:
Property
Value
Description
params
array with key/value objects
The key - value configuration settings of the button. This data will be saved in to the user session state data when he clicks this button or quick reply.
nextDialogstateId
string
The dialog state to which the user will be navigated after the button/quick reply click
type
string
UI component type (button or quick reply)
caption
string
The button/quick reply caption
List template
The list template is a list of 2-4 structured items with an optional global button rendered at the bottom. Each item may contain a thumbnail image, title, subtitle, and one button. You may also specify a default_action object that sets a URL that will be opened when the item is tapped.
Request format:
{
  "senderId": "a7355930-fa92-11e7-8308-2f056e75d1ee",
  "message":  {
    "attachment": {
      "type": "template",
      "payload": {
        "template_type": "list",
        "elements": [
          {
             "title": "Language",
             "subtitle": "Select your language",
             "image_url": "https://domain/lang.png",
             "default_action": {
                "type": "web_url",
                "url": "default_url"
              }
             "buttons": [
               {
                 "type": "postback",
                 "title": "Nederlands",
                 "payload": "{\"nextDialogstateId\": 3050, \"type\": \"button\", 
                            \"caption\": \"button\"}"
               }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "buttons": []
      }
    }
  },
  "messageCounter": 1,
  "verifyToken": "8wMsLZkdDPT64nqh"
}
Message object for list template:
Property
Value
Description
attachment
object
The attachment object.
Attachment object:
Property
Value
Description
type
string
The attachment type (template)
payload
object
The attachment payload object. The object structure depends of the attachment type
Attachment payload object:
Property
Value
Description
template_type
string
The template type (list)
elements
array
An array of list element
buttons
array
An array of general list button objects
List template element object:
Property
Value
Description
title
string
The carousel card title
subtitle
string
The carousel card subtitle
image_url
string
The carousel card image
default_action
object
The default action when the user taps the list item.
buttons
array
An array of list item button objects
Default action object:
Property
Value
Description
type
string
The action type (web_url)
url
string
The action ur. When the user taps the list element this web page will open in a new browser tab.
Button object:
Property
Value
Description
type
string
The button type (web_url - postback - phone_numberl - element share)
title
string
The button caption
payload
object (type postback) or string (type phone_number) - optional
The button payload. Only for postback type buttons.
url
string - optional
The button url. Only for url type buttons
Button payload object:
Property
Value
Description
params
array with key/value objects
The key - value configuration settings of the button. This data will be saved in to the user session state data when he clicks this button or quick reply.
nextDialogstateId
string
The dialog state to which the user will be navigated after the button/quick reply click
type
string
UI component type (button or quick reply)
caption
string
The button/quick reply caption
Attachment
An attachment represents a file such as images and video.
Request format:
{
  "senderId": "a7355930-fa92-11e7-8308-2f056e75d1ee",
  "message":  {
    "attachment": {
      "type": "image"
      "payload": {
        "url": "image_url",
      }
    }
  },
  "messageCounter": 1,
  "verifyToken": "8wMsLZkdDPT64nqh"
}
Message object for attachment:
Property
Value
Description
attachment
object
The attachment object.
Attachment object:
Property
Value
Description
type
string
The attachment type (image-video)
payload
object
The attachment payload object. The object structure depends of the attachment type
Attachment payload object:
Property
Value
Description
url
string
The attachment url
Custom components
Chatlayer.ai provides custom component development for your channels. Please contact your project manager to discuss further integration.
​