> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/whiskeysockets/Baileys/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Text Messages

> Send text messages with mentions, quotes, links, and formatting in Baileys

## Basic Text Message

Send a simple text message:

```typescript theme={null}
await sock.sendMessage(jid, { text: 'Hello World!' })
```

## Mentioning Users

Mention users in your message by providing their JIDs in the `mentions` array:

```typescript theme={null}
await sock.sendMessage(
  jid,
  {
    text: '@12345678901',
    mentions: ['12345678901@s.whatsapp.net']
  }
)
```

<Note>
  The `@number` in the text is optional but recommended for clarity. The actual mentions are controlled by the `mentions` array.
</Note>

### Multiple Mentions

```typescript theme={null}
await sock.sendMessage(
  jid,
  {
    text: 'Hello @12345678901 and @10987654321!',
    mentions: [
      '12345678901@s.whatsapp.net',
      '10987654321@s.whatsapp.net'
    ]
  }
)
```

## Quoting Messages

Reply to a message by quoting it:

```typescript theme={null}
// You need the original message object
const originalMessage: WAMessage = /* get from store or messages.upsert event */

await sock.sendMessage(
  jid,
  { text: 'This is a reply' },
  { quoted: originalMessage }
)
```

<Warning>
  The `quoted` parameter is passed in the **options** object (third parameter), not in the content object.
</Warning>

### Getting Messages to Quote

Messages can be obtained from the `messages.upsert` event:

```typescript theme={null}
sock.ev.on('messages.upsert', async ({ messages }) => {
  for (const msg of messages) {
    // Store this message for later quoting
    await saveMessage(msg) // Your implementation
    
    // Reply to this specific message
    await sock.sendMessage(
      msg.key.remoteJid!,
      { text: 'Got your message!' },
      { quoted: msg }
    )
  }
})
```

## Link Previews

Baileys can automatically generate link previews when you send URLs:

### Prerequisites

First, install the link preview library:

```bash theme={null}
yarn add link-preview-js
# or
npm install link-preview-js
```

### Automatic Link Preview

```typescript theme={null}
await sock.sendMessage(
  jid,
  {
    text: 'Check this out: https://github.com/whiskeysockets/baileys'
  }
)
```

Baileys will automatically:

1. Detect the URL in the text
2. Fetch the page metadata
3. Generate a preview with title, description, and thumbnail

### Manual Link Preview

You can provide your own link preview data:

```typescript theme={null}
await sock.sendMessage(
  jid,
  {
    text: 'Visit our site https://example.com',
    linkPreview: {
      'canonical-url': 'https://example.com',
      'matched-text': 'https://example.com',
      title: 'Example Site',
      description: 'This is an example website',
      jpegThumbnail: thumbnailBuffer // Optional Buffer
    }
  }
)
```

### Disable Link Preview

To send a URL without a preview:

```typescript theme={null}
await sock.sendMessage(
  jid,
  {
    text: 'https://example.com',
    linkPreview: null
  }
)
```

## Advanced Text Features

### Context Info

Add additional context to your message:

```typescript theme={null}
await sock.sendMessage(
  jid,
  {
    text: 'Message with context',
    contextInfo: {
      externalAdReply: {
        title: 'Custom Title',
        body: 'Custom Description',
        thumbnailUrl: 'https://example.com/image.jpg',
        sourceUrl: 'https://example.com'
      }
    }
  }
)
```

### Combined Features

Combine mentions, quotes, and other features:

```typescript theme={null}
await sock.sendMessage(
  jid,
  {
    text: 'Hey @12345678901, check this link: https://example.com',
    mentions: ['12345678901@s.whatsapp.net']
  },
  {
    quoted: originalMessage,
    ephemeralExpiration: 86400 // 24 hour disappearing message
  }
)
```

## Message Content Type Structure

Text messages are sent as `extendedTextMessage` in the protocol:

```typescript theme={null}
type WATextMessage = {
  text: string
  matchedText?: string // For link preview
  description?: string // Link preview description
  title?: string // Link preview title
  jpegThumbnail?: Buffer // Link preview thumbnail
  contextInfo?: ContextInfo // For mentions, quotes, etc.
}
```

## Formatting Text

<Warning>
  WhatsApp Web does not natively support markdown-style formatting (bold, italic, etc.) through the protocol. What you see in the WhatsApp mobile app is handled client-side.
</Warning>

While you can send special formatting characters, the rendering is client-dependent:

````typescript theme={null}
// These may or may not render as formatted depending on the client
await sock.sendMessage(jid, { 
  text: '*bold* _italic_ ~strikethrough~ ```monospace```' 
})
````

## Examples from Source

Here are real examples from the Baileys codebase:

<CodeGroup>
  ```typescript Simple Reply theme={null}
  // From example.ts
  await sock.sendMessage(
    msg.key.remoteJid!, 
    { text: 'pong ' + msg.key.id }, 
    { messageId: id }
  )
  ```

  ```typescript With Mentions theme={null}
  // From README.md
  await sock.sendMessage(
    jid,
    {
      text: '@12345678901',
      mentions: ['12345678901@s.whatsapp.net']
    }
  )
  ```

  ```typescript With Quote theme={null}
  // From README.md
  await sock.sendMessage(
    jid, 
    { text: 'hello word' }, 
    { quoted: message }
  )
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Best Practices

1. **Store Messages**: Implement a message store to support quoting and other features
2. **Validate JIDs**: Ensure the recipient JID is in the correct format
3. **Handle Errors**: Wrap send operations in try-catch blocks
4. **Rate Limiting**: Don't send too many messages too quickly to avoid bans
5. **Link Previews**: Use the library for automatic preview generation

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Media Messages" icon="image" href="/messaging/media-messages">
    Learn to send images, videos, and documents
  </Card>

  <Card title="Message Options" icon="sliders" href="/messaging/message-options">
    Configure ephemeral messages and other options
  </Card>
</CardGroup>