Using Python To Send Telegram Messages To Yourself (In A Few Lines Of Code)

Summary

This tutorial guides viewers on how to send a Telegram message to themselves using Python. It involves creating a Telegram bot via BotFather, obtaining a bot token, and identifying the user's chat ID. The script uses Python's 'requests' library to send messages, demonstrating how to notify oneself upon script completion or for other purposes. The video ensures clarity by walking through each step, from setting up the bot to crafting the final message.

Takeaways

• 🤖 To send a Telegram message using Python, you first need to create a Telegram bot using BotFather.
• 🔑 After creating the bot, obtain the Telegram bot token, which is essential for controlling the bot.
• 🆔 Get your chat ID to identify the chat with your bot, which is necessary for sending messages.
• 💬 Use the 'sendMessage' function provided by the Telegram API to send messages to yourself.
• 🛠️ Install the 'requests' library in Python to make HTTP requests to the Telegram API.
• 📝 Construct the URL for sending messages by appending your bot token and the 'sendMessage' command to the Telegram API base URL.
• 🔗 Include your chat ID and the message you want to send in the request parameters.
• 🔄 Run the Python script to send the message, and the bot will deliver it to your Telegram account.
• 🔍 Check your Telegram to confirm the receipt of the message sent by your bot.
• ⚠️ Keep your Telegram bot token private to prevent unauthorized control of your bot.

Q & A

What is the purpose of using Python to send a Telegram message to oneself?

It can be useful for notifying oneself about the completion of a script that takes some time to run.

How does one create a Telegram bot?

By interacting with the 'bot father' bot on Telegram and following the prompts to create a new bot.

What is the significance of the bot token in Telegram bot creation?

The bot token is essential for controlling the bot and should be kept private to prevent unauthorized access.

Why is the chat ID needed to send a message using a Telegram bot?

The chat ID identifies the specific chat where the bot should send the message.

How does one obtain their chat ID with a Telegram bot?

By sending a message to the bot and then using a script to extract the chat ID from the JSON response of the 'getUpdates' API call.

What is the role of the 'requests' library in sending a Telegram message using Python?

The 'requests' library is used to make HTTP requests to the Telegram API to send messages.

What is the command to initiate the creation of a new Telegram bot?

The command is '/newbot' when interacting with the 'bot father'.

How can one ensure that their Telegram bot is not controlled by others?

By keeping the bot token private and not sharing it online or with unauthorized individuals.

What is the URL format used to send a message using the Telegram bot API?

The URL format is 'https://api.telegram.org/bot<TOKEN>/sendMessage?chat_id=<CHAT_ID>&text=<MESSAGE>'.

How can one verify if the message was successfully sent to Telegram using Python?

By checking the Telegram chat for the message or by examining the JSON response from the 'sendMessage' API call in Python.