·10 min read
Telegram Bot API Explained: Webhooks, Polling, and Hosting
The Telegram Bot API is an HTTP interface: your application sends HTTPS requests (with your bot token) to Telegram’s servers to send messages, buttons, and media, and Telegram delivers updates (incoming messages and callbacks) to your app via webhook or long polling. Understanding this split explains why “having a token from BotFather” is only the first step—you still need a reliable runtime, which is what TeleCrow provides on telecrow.com.
1. Bot API vs Telegram client apps
The Bot API is for automated bots, not for logging in as a human user. End users chat in the Telegram app; your server uses the API on the bot’s behalf. The official documentation lives on Telegram’s site; TeleCrow does not replace Telegram—it hosts the software that implements your bot logic against that API.
2. Outbound: sending messages
Your server calls endpoints such as sendMessage with JSON and your bot token. Rate limits apply; retries and backoff matter at scale. Managed platforms typically wrap this so you focus on flows instead of raw HTTP for every reply.
3. Inbound: webhooks
With a webhook, you register an HTTPS URL with Telegram. Telegram POSTs each update to your URL. Your endpoint must be publicly reachable, use valid TLS, and respond quickly—otherwise Telegram may drop or retry updates. Production webhook hosting is a core reason teams use managed bot hosting instead of a laptop.
4. Inbound: long polling
Long polling means your server repeatedly asks Telegram for new updates and holds the connection open. No public URL is required, but a process must run continuously. It is common for development; many production systems prefer webhooks for efficiency.
5. Why hosting matters
If your process stops, webhook deliveries fail or polling stops—users see a dead bot. Stable hosting, restarts, and monitoring are not optional for business bots. See 24/7 managed hosting and Deploy and scale for automation.
6. Tokens and security
The token authorizes your server as the bot. Protect it: Telegram bot token security.
7. Get started with TeleCrow
Create your bot in BotFather, then join TeleCrow and read Telegram bot hosting on TeleCrow.