> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.channel360.co.za/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.channel360.co.za/api-usage/get-started.md).

# Get started

What the Channel360 API does, how a message flows, and what you need before you start.

The Channel360 API lets your own system send WhatsApp messages, reply to customers, and find out what happened to every message.

{% hint style="info" %}
Here is a link to our official [Postman Collection](https://www.postman.com/satellite-geoscientist-80349849-7234340/c360-workspace).
{% endhint %}

## How a message flows

```mermaid
sequenceDiagram
    participant You as Your system
    participant C360 as Channel360
    participant WA as WhatsApp
    You->>C360: POST /notification
    C360-->>You: 201 + notification ID (accepted, not yet delivered)
    C360->>WA: Sends the message
    WA->>WA: Delivers it to the customer's phone
    C360-->>You: Webhook events: sent, delivered, read, failed, customer replied
```

You send a request. Channel360 answers straight away with `201` and an ID. That means the message was **accepted, not delivered**. What happens next reaches you later, as webhook events sent to a URL on your server.

## What you can do

| I want to…                                 | Guide                                                                              |
| ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Send a WhatsApp message to someone         | [Send a template notification](/api-usage/send-a-template-notification.md)         |
| Know whether it was delivered or read      | [Receive delivery updates](/api-usage/receive-delivery-updates.md)                 |
| Answer a customer who messaged us          | [Reply to a customer](/api-usage/reply-to-a-customer.md)                           |
| Create or check templates from my own code | [Manage templates through the API](/api-usage/manage-templates-through-the-api.md) |

Most things in Channel360 can also be done in the Channel360 web app. The API is for automation, or for building your own screens.

## What you need

* A Channel360 login that the Channel360 team has assigned to your organisation.
* At least one WhatsApp template with the status **APPROVED**.
* A URL on your server that can receive `POST` requests, for webhooks.

## Next

{% content-ref url="/pages/4scSkzdpFgZjCWAq1QWu" %}
[Quickstart: send your first message](/api-usage/get-started/quickstart.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/UhArAKKECMUp6XHC0HCj" %}
[Authentication and your Organisation API URL](/api-usage/get-started/authentication.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}