What are inline buttons
Inline buttons (in-message buttons) are interactive buttons that appear directly beneath a Telegram message and allow the user to interact with a bot or content with a single tap. They simplify navigation, make user flows more convenient, and remove the need to type responses manually.
Unlike custom keyboards, which appear at the bottom of the screen, inline buttons are attached to a specific message. This means they appear and disappear along with that message, keeping the interface clean and focused.
Buttons can:
- trigger commands or actions within a bot;
- open external links;
- switch between flows or display other messages;
- serve as confirmation options (e.g., “Yes” / “No”);
- support polls, quizzes, games, and menu navigation.
These buttons are often used to build interactive user flows: the user taps a button, and the bot immediately replies or updates the message. This works well for both simple bots and more complex, multi-step scenarios.
Examples of use
- Moving to the next step in a form or bot conversation;
- selecting a product or service from a list;
- voting or rating a post;
- confirming an action or placing an order directly in the message;
- linking to a website, landing page, form, or catalog.
Popular platforms that support inline buttons include:
- Manybot — for creating bots with inline menus without coding;
- Chatfuel — used to build marketing bots with dynamic inline buttons;
- BotFather — Telegram’s official tool for setting up bots that can use inline button callbacks;
- FlowXO — supports building advanced flows with inline actions;
- SendPulse — offers visual inline button setup for multichannel bots including Telegram.
Application of Telegram in advertising
Inline buttons are widely used in Telegram advertising. They’re added under sponsored posts to immediately guide the user — to a bot, channel, subscription, or external site. This improves click-through rates and shortens the user journey.
Benefits:
- instant interaction without typing;
- logical behavior — the buttons are contextually linked to the message;
- compact, user-friendly interface;
- versatility — they work in bots, groups, channels, and ads.
Inline buttons are one of the most efficient interaction tools in Telegram. They make communication smoother, faster, and more precise — boosting both engagement and user experience.
