# sendMessage

> Use this method to send text messages

**Category:** Telegram Bot API — Methods (A-Z)  
**URL:** https://docs.botlify.cloud/sendmessage  
**Platform:** Botlify Cloud (https://botlify.cloud)  

---

**Botlify Native Shorthand:**
  `tg_send($chatId, $text, $extra);`
  Fastest way to send formatted HTML messages in Botlify Cloud without manually constructing arrays. See [Native Helpers Guide](?page=tg-native-helpers).
 

Use this method to send text messages. On success, the sent Message is returned.

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| business_connection_id | String | Optional | Unique identifier of the business connection on behalf of which the message will be sent |
| chat_id | Integer or String | Yes | Unique identifier for the target chat or username of the target bot, supergroup or channel in the format @username |
| message_thread_id | Integer | Optional | Unique identifier for the target message thread (topic) of a forum; for forum supergroups and private chats of bots with forum topic mode enabled only |
| direct_messages_topic_id | Integer | Optional | Identifier of the direct messages topic to which the message will be sent; required if the message is sent to a direct messages chat |
| ephemeral_message_parameters | EphemeralMessageParameters | Optional | A JSON-serialized object containing the parameters of the ephemeral message to send |
| text | String | Yes | Text of the message to be sent, 1-4096 characters after entities parsing |
| parse_mode | String | Optional | Mode for parsing entities in the message text. See formatting options for more details. |
| entities | Array of MessageEntity | Optional | A JSON-serialized list of special entities that appear in message text, which can be specified instead of parse_mode |
| link_preview_options | LinkPreviewOptions | Optional | Link preview generation options for the message |
| disable_notification | Boolean | Optional | Sends the message silently. Users will receive a notification with no sound. |
| protect_content | Boolean | Optional | Protects the contents of the sent message from forwarding and saving |
| allow_paid_broadcast | Boolean | Optional | Pass True to allow up to 1000 messages per second, ignoring broadcasting limits for a fee of 0.1 Telegram Stars per message. The relevant Stars will be withdrawn from the bot's balance. |
| message_effect_id | String | Optional | Unique identifier of the message effect to be added to the message; for private chats only |
| suggested_post_parameters | SuggestedPostParameters | Optional | A JSON-serialized object containing the parameters of the suggested post to send; for direct messages chats only. If the message is sent as a reply to another suggested post, then that suggested post is automatically declined. |
| reply_parameters | ReplyParameters | Optional | Description of the message to reply to |
| reply_markup | InlineKeyboardMarkup or ReplyKeyboardMarkup or ReplyKeyboardRemove or ForceReply | Optional | Additional interface options. A JSON-serialized object for an inline keyboard, custom reply keyboard, instructions to remove a reply keyboard or to force a reply from the user. |

## Example

```php

```

> [!TIP]
> **Botlify Cloud Runtime**
> Credentials are auto-injected in .env — always load them with getenv(): BOT_TOKEN, ADMIN_CHAT_ID, BOT_USERNAME. Main database: database.db (SQLite, WAL mode). Runtime errors: error.log. Quick test: send to $ADMIN_CHAT_ID. Full details: Runtime Reference.