# Send a flow

🔒 WhatsApp 24-Hour Session Rule

> Before sending a free-form message, make sure the WhatsApp session with the user is **active**.
>
> **If the user has not messaged your business within the last 24 hours, WhatsApp requires the first message to be a *****template message***.
>
> After the customer replies, the 24-hour session opens and you may send free-form messages using this API.\
> **For sandbox testing**, send your join code to the sandbox number to activate your session.\
> [Learn more](https://app.gitbook.com/o/rJyj7TfON4zeW56KoQjM/s/2JHt6V4YwZLX6ZUdLqMy/~/changes/87/guides/joincodes)

```shellscript
POST https://gateway.lipachat.com/api/v1/whatsapp/interactive/flows
```

**Header**

| Name         | Value                                                                           |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Content-Type | application/json                                                                |
| apiKey       | Get apiKey from app portal settings tab <https://app.lipachat.com/app/settings> |

**Body**

| Name               | Type   | Description                                                                                                        |
| ------------------ | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| messageId          | string | A unique identifier for the message. This will be used to track the message status and for deduplication purposes. |
| to                 | string | PhonReceiver phone number. It should start with a country code.                                                    |
| from               | string | Sandbox number +254110090747 or your own WABA phone number.                                                        |
| text               | string |                                                                                                                    |
| flowId             | string | Id of the flow you want to send                                                                                    |
| flowCta            | string | Text to appear on the submit button of the flow                                                                    |
| screen             | string | First screen of your json request/flow                                                                             |
| data.service       | string |                                                                                                                    |
| data.serviceOption | string |                                                                                                                    |
| data.package       | string |                                                                                                                    |

**Example Request**

```json
{
  "messageId": "{{$randomUUID}}",
  "to": "254717746565",
  "from": "{{SANDBOX_NUMBER}}",
  "text": "Thank you share your details and one of our agents will be in touch",
  "flowId": "YOUR_FLOW_ID",
  "flowCta": "Share Details!",
  "screen": "First screen in your JSON request",
  "data": {
    "service": "",
    "serviceOption": "",
    "package": ""
  }
}
```

**Response**

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="200" %}

```json
{
  "timestamp": "2024-03-22T11:42:18.625016916",
  "data": {
    "messageId": "1a85c604-0f08-4182-8011-407ba84598c5",
    "waId": "wamid.HBgMMjU0NzE3NzQ2NTY1FQIAERgSMDUxNjI2OEE5OUUyMzQzMjM4AA==",
    "status": "SENT",
    "statusDesc": "Message sent successfully"
  },
  "status": "success",
  "message": "",
  "errors": null
}
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="400" %}

```json
{
    "timestamp": "2024-09-15T20:06:38.675567555",
    "data": null,
    "status": "error",
    "message": "Request failed.",
    "errors": null
}
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="401" %}

```json
{
    "timestamp": "2024-09-15T20:07:23.464199513",
    "data": null,
    "status": "success",
    "message": "Invalid credentials",
    "errors": null
}
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}