> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rovax.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Channels Reference

> Endpoints to connect and manage communication channels — WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, and website widget

## Concept

A **Channel** is the connection between a Timely.ai agent and a messaging platform where your customers are. Each channel represents an active account or number: a WhatsApp Business number, an Instagram Business profile, a Telegram bot, or a chat widget embedded in your website. The agent associated with the channel receives all messages that arrive through it and replies through it.

An agent can have multiple channels associated with it. A channel, however, belongs to exactly one agent at a time — if you need to switch the agent for a channel, simply update the association.

## Channel Types

| Type              | Identifier  | Notes                                     |
| ----------------- | ----------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| WhatsApp Business | `whatsapp`  | Requires Meta-approved WABA               |
| Instagram         | `instagram` | Requires Business profile and linked Page |
| Telegram          | `telegram`  | Requires Bot Token from @BotFather        |
| Widget (website)  | `widget`    | No external account — generated by Timely |

## Lifecycle

```
create channel (disconnected)
    │
    ▼
connect (scanning QR / entering token)
    │
    ▼
connected → receives messages → agent processes
    │
    ├── reconnect if dropped → connected
    │
    ▼
disconnect or delete
```

WhatsApp channels go through a QR code scanning or official number linking flow. The `GET /v1/channels/{id}/qr-code` endpoint returns the QR code in base64 during the connection window.

## Main Fields

| Field               | Type          | Description                                         |
| ------------------- | ------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| `id`                | string (UUID) | Unique channel ID                                   |
| `agent_id`          | string (UUID) | Associated agent                                    |
| `type`              | enum          | `whatsapp` \| `instagram` \| `telegram` \| `widget` |
| `name`              | string        | Descriptive name of the channel                     |
| `status`            | enum          | `connected` \| `disconnected` \| `error`            |
| `phone_number`      | string        | Associated number (for WhatsApp/Telegram)           |
| `username`          | string        | Profile username (for Instagram/Telegram)           |
| `widget_token`      | string        | Public widget initialization token                  |
| `created_at`        | string        | ISO 8601 creation timestamp                         |
| `last_connected_at` | string        | ISO 8601 last successful connection timestamp       |

## Available Endpoints

<Note>
  See the left sidebar for the full list of endpoints in this group. Each endpoint has its own page with request/response schema, cURL/JS/Python examples, and an interactive playground.
</Note>

## Next Steps

<Card title="Your first request" href="/en/start/quickstart-api">
  If you haven't made your first call yet, start here.
</Card>