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update_type

A plain string that tells you what just happened — no detective work required.

What is it?

update_type is a string naming the kind of Telegram update that triggered your command. Instead of poking through the entire update object asking "was it a message? a button? a poll?", you get a clean label like "message" or "callback_query".

It's the difference between reading a novel and reading the chapter title. Sometimes you need the novel. Often the title is enough.

When would you use it?

Use update_type whenever your command handles more than one kind of event and you need to branch:

  • Echo text messages but ignore photos
  • Route callback buttons to different logic
  • Detect webhook traffic vs normal Telegram updates
  • Skip processing for update types your command doesn't care about

Pair it with request — update_type tells you what, request gives you the details.

Try it

if (update_type === "message") {
  Bot.sendMessage("You wrote: " + message)
}

if (update_type === "callback_query") {
  Bot.sendMessage(request.from.id, "Button pressed: " + request.data)
}

if (update_type === "web_request") {
  res.send({ status: "ok" })
}

Common values

Messages

  • message
  • edited_message
  • channel_post
  • edited_channel_post
  • business_message
  • edited_business_message

Interactive

  • callback_query — inline keyboard button taps (Handling Callbacks)
  • inline_query
  • chosen_inline_result

Members and chats

  • chat_member
  • my_chat_member
  • chat_join_request
  • chat_boost
  • removed_chat_boost

Everything else

  • poll, poll_answer
  • message_reaction, message_reaction_count
  • shipping_query, pre_checkout_query
  • purchased_paid_media
  • business_connection, deleted_business_messages
  • managed_bot
  • guest_message

HTTP-triggered

If the type can't be determined, the value is "unknown". The universe is mysterious sometimes.

Good to know

  • update_type is read-only and exists only during command execution
  • Values match Telegram update type names where applicable
  • For quick text-only checks, message is even simpler — but only works for text messages