How to Create Telegram Bot Links and Deep Links
Links are a common entry point to using a bot. Use regular links when you only need to open the bot. Use deep links when the bot should receive some extra input at the start.
Use regular links to direct people to your bot
The same way as with users, groups, and channels, the link t.me/examplebot opens the bot with the username @examplebot. Use the link in form examplebot.t.me if you want to be fancy :)
Use deep links for more input
Deep links can start a personal dialog with the bot with some initial data— for example, for a referral program it can be an ID of the user who shared the link. They have the following form: t.me/examplebot?start=YOUR_TEXT
from folds.context import bot
link = f'https://t.me/{bot.me.username}?start=from_ad'Once a user visits a deep link, they see a dialog with the bot and the “Start” button (even if they have already started the dialog). The button sends /start YOUR_TEXT. The user, however, sees only /start, like if starting the bot regularly.
Use group deep links for more input
If your bot is intended for groups, use deep links for groups. With them, the bot can join a group and receive initial input right away.
The link of form t.me/examplebot?startgroup=YOUR_TEXT opens a chat selection dialog to add the bot; once the bot is added, the command /start YOUR_TEXT will immediately be sent to the group.
from folds.context import bot
link = f'https://t.me/{bot.me.username}?startgroup=from_ad'Mind the tg:// links
All links considered above have tg:// equivalents (like tg://resolve?domain=examplebot). Still, prefer the regular t.me links: they are more readable and can be opened outside Telegram.
Some other tg:// links lead to in-app places, For example, the link to tg://settings opens settings in some Telegram apps. Such links are listed in API documentation and in the unofficial @DeepLink channel.