What is a Telegram bot? How bots work and what they are used for

What does the word «bot» mean?

«Bot» is short for robot: a computer program that does a specific task automatically. In a messaging app, a bot is an account you chat with like any person, except that the replies come from a program running on a server, not from someone typing.

A Telegram bot is therefore a special Telegram account run by software. You send it a message or press a button in the chat, and it understands your request and answers within seconds: it shows information, carries out an operation, or asks for the next step.

A bot is easy to recognise: every Telegram bot's username ends with «bot», such as @example_bot, and its profile says «bot» where a person's shows «last seen».

How does a Telegram bot work behind the screen?

From the outside a bot looks like an ordinary chat, but three parties are involved: you, Telegram's servers, and the server that runs the bot's program. Since 2015 Telegram has offered developers a free programming interface called the Bot API, through which your messages reach the program and its replies come back to you.

The program keeps running on its server day and night, even while the bot owner's phone is switched off, which is why a bot answers at any hour.

This is what happens within seconds every time you press a button in a bot:

1. You send a message or press a button in the bot's chat.
2. Telegram's servers receive it and pass it to the bot's server through the Bot API.
3. The bot's program reads the request, checks your data, and calls other systems when needed, such as the gaming platform or a payment wallet.
4. The program sends its reply to Telegram, and it appears in your chat as text or new buttons.

How is a bot different from a normal account?

A bot lives inside Telegram like any account, but Telegram gives it special rules to protect users. Knowing them helps you understand how a bot behaves and tell it apart from scammers:

• A bot cannot start a chat with you on its own: you have to open it and press «Start» first.
• A bot does not see your phone number unless you press a button to share it yourself.
• A bot answers at once and at any hour, because it is a program that never sleeps.
• A bot works with buttons and commands such as /start instead of long typing.
• A bot has no «last seen» status and cannot be called.

Kinds of Telegram bots and what they do

Because anyone can create a bot, there is now a bot for almost every need. These are the most common kinds:

• Payment and wallet bots: deposits, withdrawals and transfers between accounts, like the deposit bots running on Ichancy.
• Customer service bots: answer frequent questions and take requests and complaints around the clock.
• Shop and booking bots: show products, take orders and book appointments.
• Notification and news bots: send instant alerts about an order or news to those who subscribed.
• Group management bots: welcome new members, delete spam and enforce the rules.
• Education, games and AI bots: quizzes, games and assistants that answer questions.

Why do businesses and accountants rely on bots?

Many businesses move to bots because they bring the service to where people already spend their time: the messaging app. No new app, no website with a complicated sign-up; the customer finds everything in one chat.

For balance top-ups in particular, a bot solves a real problem: an accountant cannot answer every message at once, especially at night, while the player wants their balance now. The bot takes the request, keeps it and checks the payment, and the accountant approves with one tap, or lets the automatic check do the work.

• Service around the clock without someone answering by hand.
• More speed and fewer mistakes, because every request follows the same steps.
• An exact record of every operation with a reference to look it up.
• Far cheaper than building a full phone app.
• Direct contact with customers through notifications and offers.

See also: The deposit bot for the gaming platform

Bot commands and buttons: how do you talk to a bot?

There are two ways to use a bot: buttons and commands. Buttons appear under the messages or in place of the keyboard, and you press them instead of typing. Commands are short words starting with a slash, which you type or pick from the menu button next to the message box.

• /start: starts the bot or shows the main menu again at any time.
• /help: in many bots, shows how to use them.
• /terms: in Ichancy bots, shows the terms of use written by the accountant.
• The menu button next to the message box: lists all of the bot's commands to choose from.
• Buttons inside messages, such as «✅ Confirm» and «❌ Cancel»: carry out the step at once.

How do you make sure a bot is real?

The popularity of bots has attracted scammers too: someone may create a bot with a name close to a well-known one, hoping people will send it money. Fortunately, protecting yourself is easy with a few simple rules:

• Only open a bot from an official link, such as the list of approved bots on this site.
• Compare the username letter by letter: one extra letter or a different underscore means another bot.
• A real bot never asks for your Telegram login code or your Telegram password.
• Only transfer money to the account the bot shows in your own request.

See also: Safety with Telegram bots

Start now with a real bot

The best way to understand bots is to try one. Open one of the approved bots on the Ichancy list and press «Start»: the menu appears with its buttons — create an account, deposit, withdraw, my balance and support.

If you would like every step explained, from opening the bot to receiving a withdrawal, read the step-by-step guide.

See also: How to use a deposit bot