> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.chatsyncs.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# WhatsApp Flows (Awareness)

> Awareness-level overview of WhatsApp Flows — a Meta feature for building structured, form-like interactions within WhatsApp (collect inputs, show options, process responses). Use when a customer asks what WhatsApp Flows are, whether they can build a multi-step form on WhatsApp, or how Flows differ from regular interactive messages.

<Info>
  **Awareness only.** This page covers what Flows are and when to use them. Full API details
  (creating a Flow via the API, the Flow JSON schema, endpoint setup) are not yet documented
  here.
</Info>

WhatsApp Flows is a Meta feature that lets businesses build structured, multi-step
interactions inside WhatsApp — forms, surveys, product selectors, and more. Unlike regular
messages (which require a back-and-forth exchange), Flows present the full interaction in one
rich UI that the customer fills out or navigates.

## How it works

WhatsApp Flows lets you define a sequence of screens — each screen can contain input fields,
dropdowns, checkboxes, or display content. The customer interacts with them without leaving
WhatsApp. When they submit, the response data is sent to your server.

**Example use cases:**

* Lead capture form for a loan application (name, income, loan amount)
* Insurance quote calculator (members covered, health risks, payment frequency)
* Purchase intent survey (preferred products, budget)
* Personalised offer selection with a payment link

**Where the data goes:** Your Flow can send the collected data to any endpoint — Google
Sheets, a CRM, a database (MySQL), Airtable, or an automation tool like n8n.

**How it differs from buttons/lists:** Regular interactive messages (buttons, list messages)
offer simple choices. Flows support multi-step structured input with form fields — much richer
than a list of options.

## Frequently asked

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What are WhatsApp Flows?">
    Flows are a Meta feature for building structured, multi-step interactions inside WhatsApp —
    think forms and surveys rendered natively in the chat. The customer fills out fields or
    makes selections without leaving WhatsApp, and the data is sent to your server.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How are Flows different from list messages or reply buttons?">
    Buttons and lists give customers a small set of options to tap. Flows support full form
    inputs — text fields, dropdowns, checkboxes, multi-screen flows. They're much richer and
    designed for collecting structured data.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Gotchas & common mistakes

<Warning>
  * **Flows require a separate setup** — they are not a message type like text or buttons. You
    define a Flow in the WhatsApp Manager or via the Flows API, then trigger it with a special
    interactive message type.
  * **Not all accounts have Flows access** — availability may vary by region and account type.
</Warning>