Commands, the menu button and inline mode

What it is

Commands start with /; typing / lists them with descriptions. The Menu button next to the message field opens that list or launches a Mini App. Inline mode lets people use your bot in any chat: they type `@your_bot` and a query and pick a result.

How to do it

1. Commands: send /setcommands to @BotFather, pick the bot, send one per line: `help - What this bot can do`.
2. Support /start and /help, plus /settings if your bot has settings.
3. Menu button: /setmenubutton, then the button text and your Mini App's address; by default it opens the command list.
4. Inline mode: /setinline, pick the bot and send the placeholder people see after typing its name.
5. To use it: type `@your_bot` and a query in any chat and tap a result. The message shows "via @your_bot".

Watch out

• A command is 1–32 characters: lowercase Latin letters, digits and underscores. A description is 1–256 characters, and a list holds up to 100 commands.
• The Bot API's setMyCommands gives different lists per scope (private chats, groups, admins, one chat) and language.
• People can send any command, even unlisted ones: check on your server that it exists and they may use it.
• In groups with privacy mode, write `/command@your_bot`.
• Inline answers hold up to 50 results and are cached 300 seconds by default, shared with anyone sending the same query; use `is_personal` for personal results.

With Gem

Gem doesn't set these up: your own bot isn't available on Gem yet. Your project lives in @gembot (/newproject, /myprojects, /dashboard, /newapp), with its Mini App page at `t.me/gembot?startapp=<name>`.

Sources

• https://core.telegram.org/bots/features#commands
• https://core.telegram.org/bots/api#setmycommands
• https://core.telegram.org/bots/inline
• https://core.telegram.org/bots/webapps

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