Editing Messages¶

Messages don't have to be permanent. Telegram lets bots edit text, captions, and keyboards on messages they sent — and Api exposes all of it.

You'll edit messages constantly in menu-driven bots: swap button labels, replace a status line, remove buttons after the user picks an option. One message morphs instead of five new ones stacking up like dirty dishes.

What can you edit?¶

You need the message_id of the message you're changing. In a callback handler that's usually update.callback_query.message.message_id. If you just sent it yourself, await Api.sendMessage(...) and chain .editText() instead — see Method Chaining.

How to use it¶

Edit text¶

Api.editMessageText({
  chat_id: chat.id,
  message_id: request.message.message_id,
  text: "Updated content.",
  parse_mode: "Markdown"
})

Rich messages (Bot API 10.1) — pass rich_message instead of text:

Api.editMessageText({
  chat_id: chat.id,
  message_id: request.message.message_id,
  rich_message: {
    markdown: "**Status:** Complete"
  }
})

Edit caption on media¶

Photos and documents use captions, not message text:

Api.editMessageCaption({
  chat_id: chat.id,
  message_id: request.message.message_id,
  caption: "Revised caption."
})

Swap the inline keyboard¶

Remove buttons after a choice, or replace the whole menu:

Api.editMessageReplyMarkup({
  chat_id: chat.id,
  message_id: request.message.message_id,
  reply_markup: {
    inline_keyboard: [[{ text: "Done", callback_data: "done" }]]
  }
})

Pass an empty inline_keyboard: [] to strip buttons entirely.

Try it — copy-paste examples¶

Typical callback flow¶

The pattern that keeps chats tidy:

// 1. Dismiss the spinner
Api.answerCallbackQuery({
  callback_query_id: update.callback_query.id
})

// 2. Update the same message
Api.editMessageText({
  chat_id: chat.id,
  message_id: update.callback_query.message.message_id,
  text: "You chose Option A. Processing..."
})

// 3. Optionally hand off to another command
Bot.runCommand("/option_a_flow")

Temporary notice — send, wait, delete¶

let sent = await Api.sendMessage({ text: "Temporary notice." })
await sent.delete()

Or standalone:

Api.deleteMessage({
  chat_id: chat.id,
  message_id: request.message.message_id
})

What you can't edit¶

Bots can't edit messages they didn't send (with the usual Telegram exceptions around admins and channels). They also can't turn a text message into a photo — edit the text or send new media.

Telegram returns an error if the message is too old or the content is identical to what's already there. Check res.ok when using await.

Reference¶

Full parameter lists in the Telegram docs:

• editMessageText
• editMessageCaption
• editMessageReplyMarkup
• deleteMessage

Also see Method Chaining for shorthand after await Api.sendMessage.