User Queries

Query user information including existence checks, status, profile pictures, and business profiles using Baileys

Check If ID Exists on WhatsApp

Verify if a phone number or JID is registered on WhatsApp:

const [result] = await sock.onWhatsApp(jid)
if (result.exists) {
    console.log(`${jid} exists on WhatsApp, as jid: ${result.jid}`)
}

This is useful for validating phone numbers before attempting to send messages.

Query Chat History

Fetch older messages from a chat (works for both individual and group chats):

// You need to have the oldest message in chat
const msg = await getOldestMessageInChat(jid) // implement this on your end
await sock.fetchMessageHistory(
    50, // quantity (max: 50 per query)
    msg.key,
    msg.messageTimestamp
)

Messages will be received in the messaging.history-set event. The maximum number of messages per query is 50.

Fetch Status

Get a user’s WhatsApp status/about text:

const status = await sock.fetchStatus(jid)
console.log('status: ' + status)

Fetch Profile Picture

Get the display picture of a person or group in different resolutions:

Low Resolution Picture

// for low res picture
const ppUrl = await sock.profilePictureUrl(jid)
console.log(ppUrl)

High Resolution Picture

// for high res picture
const ppUrl = await sock.profilePictureUrl(jid, 'image')
console.log(ppUrl)

The function accepts 'preview' for low resolution (default) or 'image' for high resolution profile pictures.

Function Signature

From src/Socket/chats.ts:639-660:

const profilePictureUrl = async (
    jid: string, 
    type: 'preview' | 'image' = 'preview', 
    timeoutMs?: number
) => {
    // Returns the URL string or undefined if no picture
}

Fetch Business Profile

Get detailed information about a business account:

const profile = await sock.getBusinessProfile(jid)
console.log('business description: ' + profile.description + ', category: ' + profile.category)

Business Profile Structure

The returned object contains:

interface WABusinessProfile {
    wid?: string                    // Business WhatsApp ID
    address?: string                // Business address
    description: string             // Business description
    website?: string[]              // Website URLs
    email?: string                  // Business email
    category?: string               // Business category
    business_hours?: {              // Operating hours
        timezone?: string
        business_config?: WABusinessHoursConfig[]
    }
}

Example Response

{
    wid: '[e-mail]',
    description: 'Premium coffee shop',
    category: 'Food & Beverage',
    website: ['https://example.com'],
    email: '[e-mail]',
    address: '123 Main St, City',
    business_hours: {
        timezone: 'America/New_York',
        business_config: [...]
    }
}

Fetch Presence Status

Monitor if someone is typing or online:

// The presence update is fetched and called here
sock.ev.on('presence.update', console.log)

// Request updates for a chat
await sock.presenceSubscribe(jid)

See the Presence Updates page for detailed information about presence handling.

Implementation References

• onWhatsApp - Uses USync protocol for number validation
• fetchStatus - src/Socket/chats.ts:246-257
• profilePictureUrl - src/Socket/chats.ts:639-660
• getBusinessProfile - src/Socket/chats.ts:393-441
• fetchMessageHistory - Implemented in messages socket
• presenceSubscribe - src/Socket/chats.ts:730-742