> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://hellotars.com/docs/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Channels overview > What a channel is in Tars, where WhatsApp numbers live in the dashboard, and how a connected number becomes part of an agent's deployment. export const img = { activity: { activityTimeline: "/docs/guides/activity/images/activity-timeline.png", capturedVariablesPanel: "/docs/guides/activity/images/captured-variables-panel.png", dataViewCards: "/docs/guides/activity/images/data-view-cards.png", exportDataDialog: "/docs/guides/activity/images/export-data-dialog.png", tasksPanelExportReady: "/docs/guides/activity/images/tasks-panel-export-ready.png" }, analytics: { analyticsOverview: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/analytics-overview.png", exploreGallery: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/explore-gallery.png", exploreTab: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/explore-tab.png", goalForm: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/goal-form.png", goalsTab: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/goals-tab.png", improveDiagnostics: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/improve-diagnostics.png", improveTab: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/improve-tab.png", teamTab: "/docs/guides/analytics/images/team-tab.png" }, billing: { billingOverview: "/docs/guides/billing/images/billing-overview.png", buyConversationsDialog: "/docs/guides/billing/images/buy-conversations-dialog.png", buySeatsDialog: "/docs/guides/billing/images/buy-seats-dialog.png", livechatSeatsTab: "/docs/guides/billing/images/livechat-seats-tab.png", organizationDeletionLifecycle: "/docs/guides/billing/images/organization-deletion-lifecycle.svg", organizationSwitcher: "/docs/guides/billing/images/organization-switcher.png", rolesAndAccessMatrix: "/docs/guides/billing/images/roles-and-access-matrix.png" }, building: { agentBehaviorGuardrails: "/docs/guides/building/images/agent-behavior-guardrails.png", agentCardMenu: "/docs/guides/building/images/agent-card-menu.png", agentConfigure: "/docs/guides/building/images/agent-configure.png", agentExitRoutesDialog: "/docs/guides/building/images/agent-exit-routes-dialog.png", agentLibrary: "/docs/guides/building/images/agent-library.png", agentModelParameters: "/docs/guides/building/images/agent-model-parameters.png", aiAgentGambitLoop: "/docs/guides/building/images/ai-agent-gambit-loop.svg", builderBasics: "/docs/guides/building/images/builder-basics.png", builderConnectHandlePanel: "/docs/guides/building/images/builder-connect-handle-panel.png", builtInToolsDialog: "/docs/guides/building/images/built-in-tools-dialog.png", configureDebugTab: "/docs/guides/building/images/configure-debug-tab.png", configureLanguage: "/docs/guides/building/images/configure-language.png", configureNotifications: "/docs/guides/building/images/configure-notifications.png", createAgentDialog: "/docs/guides/building/images/create-agent-dialog.png", draftPublishRollbackPinning: "/docs/guides/building/images/draft-publish-rollback-pinning.svg", draftSwitcherChip: "/docs/guides/building/images/draft-switcher-chip.png", duplicateAgentDialog: "/docs/guides/building/images/duplicate-agent-dialog.png", flowConditions: "/docs/guides/building/images/flow-conditions.png", gambitPalette: "/docs/guides/building/images/gambit-palette.png", gambits: { gambitAiAgent: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-ai-agent.png", gambitApiCall: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-api-call.png", gambitAutoSuggestion: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-auto-suggestion.png", gambitButton: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-button.png", gambitCard: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-card.png", gambitChannel: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-channel.png", gambitCustomCode: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-custom-code.png", gambitDateTime: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-date-time.png", gambitGeoLocation: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-geo-location.png", gambitLanguage: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-language.png", gambitLiveChat: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-live-chat.png", gambitMediaUpload: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-media-upload.png", gambitNoInput: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-no-input.png", gambitRedirect: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-redirect.png", gambitStarRating: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-star-rating.png", gambitStartAndEnd: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-start-and-end.png", gambitText: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-text.png", gambitTrigger: "/docs/guides/building/gambits/images/gambit-trigger.png" }, languagesTranslateGambit: "/docs/guides/building/images/languages-translate-gambit.png", languageSystemMessages: "/docs/guides/building/images/language-system-messages.png", newDraftDialog: "/docs/guides/building/images/new-draft-dialog.png", outputComponentsGrid: "/docs/guides/building/images/output-components-grid.png", publishDialog: "/docs/guides/building/images/publish-dialog.png", systemPromptDialog: "/docs/guides/building/images/system-prompt-dialog.png", testModeEventLog: "/docs/guides/building/images/test-mode-event-log.png", testModePanel: "/docs/guides/building/images/test-mode-panel.png", validationProblemsPanel: "/docs/guides/building/images/validation-problems-panel.png", variablePickerPanel: "/docs/guides/building/images/variable-picker-panel.png", variablePillInserted: "/docs/guides/building/images/variable-pill-inserted.png", versionsDraftsPanel: "/docs/guides/building/images/versions-drafts-panel.png" }, campaigns: { campaignFlavorsTriggers: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/campaign-flavors-triggers.svg", campaignReplyRouting: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/campaign-reply-routing.svg", campaignSendAnatomy: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/campaign-send-anatomy.svg", createACampaign: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/create-a-campaign.png", walletReserveSettleRefund: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/wallet-reserve-settle-refund.svg", webhookCampaignContractLocking: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/webhook-campaign-contract-locking.svg", webhookCampaignLifecycleStates: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/webhook-campaign-lifecycle-states.svg", webhookCampaignOneCallOneDelivery: "/docs/guides/campaigns/images/webhook-campaign-one-call-one-delivery.svg" }, channels: { distributeWhatsappConnect: "/docs/guides/channels/images/distribute-whatsapp-connect.png", whatsappConnectDialogWaiting: "/docs/guides/channels/images/whatsapp-connect-dialog-waiting.png", whatsappEmptyState: "/docs/guides/channels/images/whatsapp-empty-state.png" }, deploy: { bridgeEventGambitSection: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/bridge-event-gambit-section.png", deploymentSurfacesAndChannels: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/deployment-surfaces-and-channels.svg", designAgentTab: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/design-agent-tab.png", designLauncherTab: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/design-launcher-tab.png", embedIframeTab: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/embed-iframe-tab.png", embedTheWidget: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/embed-the-widget.png", mobileAppIntegration: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/mobile-app-integration.png", onYourDomain: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/on-your-domain.png", shareYourAgentLink: "/docs/guides/deploy/images/share-your-agent-link.png" }, developer: { api: { channelSendTemplateVsMessage: "/docs/developer/api/images/channel-send-template-vs-message.svg", endUsers: { endUsersListCursorPagination: "/docs/developer/api/end-users/images/end-users-list-cursor-pagination.svg" }, triggerCallConversationLifecycle: "/docs/developer/api/images/trigger-call-conversation-lifecycle.svg" }, developerSurfacesMap: "/docs/developer/images/developer-surfaces-map.svg", embed: { embedConfigToWidgetContext: "/docs/developer/embed/images/embed-config-to-widget-context.svg", hostPageBridgeFlow: "/docs/developer/embed/images/host-page-bridge-flow.svg", identitySigningFlow: "/docs/developer/embed/images/identity-signing-flow.svg", scriptVsIframeEmbed: "/docs/developer/embed/images/script-vs-iframe-embed.svg" }, mobile: { bridgeMessageProtocol: "/docs/developer/mobile/images/bridge-message-protocol.svg", webviewBridgeArchitecture: "/docs/developer/mobile/images/webview-bridge-architecture.svg" } }, endUsers: { anonymousToIdentifiedProfile: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/anonymous-to-identified-profile.svg", bulkActionBar: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/bulk-action-bar.png", campaignConsentGate: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/campaign-consent-gate.svg", consentPerChannelStates: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/consent-per-channel-states.svg", dynamicVsStaticSegments: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/dynamic-vs-static-segments.svg", endUserDirectory: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/end-user-directory.png", endUserProfileAcrossChannels: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/end-user-profile-across-channels.svg", endUserProfilePanes: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/end-user-profile-panes.png", profileMergeAndTakeoverProtection: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/profile-merge-and-takeover-protection.svg", segmentBuilder: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/segment-builder.png", segmentsPage: "/docs/guides/end-users/images/segments-page.png" }, getStarted: { agentStates: "/docs/get-started/images/agent-states.svg", buildToLivePath: "/docs/get-started/images/build-to-live-path.svg", dashboardSidebarMap: "/docs/get-started/images/dashboard-sidebar-map.png", organizationOwnershipAndRoles: "/docs/get-started/images/organization-ownership-and-roles.svg", quickstart: { step1CreateYourAccount: "/docs/get-started/images/quickstart/step-1-create-your-account.png", step3ConnectTheAiAgent: "/docs/get-started/images/quickstart/step-3-connect-the-ai-agent.png", step4TestMode: "/docs/get-started/images/quickstart/step-4-test-mode.png" }, quickstartCanvas: "/docs/get-started/images/quickstart-canvas.png" }, knowledge: { addASource: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/add-a-source.png", addRetrieverPicker: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/add-retriever-picker.png", attachKnowledgeGambit: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/attach-knowledge-gambit.png", configureARetriever: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/configure-a-retriever.png", createKnowledgeBaseDialog: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/create-knowledge-base-dialog.png", customRetrieverDialog: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/custom-retriever-dialog.png", datasetTab: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/dataset-tab.png", documentChangeReindexLifecycle: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/document-change-reindex-lifecycle.svg", documentsTabPreview: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/documents-tab-preview.png", importAWebsite: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/import-a-website.png", kbList: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/kb-list.png", retrieverIndexStates: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/retriever-index-states.svg", retrieverQueryPipeline: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/retriever-query-pipeline.svg", standardVsParentChildChunking: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/standard-vs-parent-child-chunking.svg", syncManagement: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/sync-management.png", testRetriever: "/docs/guides/knowledge/images/test-retriever.png" }, liveChat: { agentWorkspace: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/agent-workspace.png", assignedAgentPicker: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/assigned-agent-picker.png", automaticAssignmentRouting: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/automatic-assignment-routing.svg", availabilityDropdown: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/availability-dropdown.png", cannedResponses: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/canned-responses.png", composerPreferences: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/composer-preferences.png", copilotPanel: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/copilot-panel.png", filterConversationsDialog: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/filter-conversations-dialog.png", inboxAnalyticsTab: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/inbox-analytics-tab.png", inboxAvailabilityTab: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/inbox-availability-tab.png", inboxesSettings: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/inboxes-settings.png", inboxRoutingTab: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/inbox-routing-tab.png", labelsSettings: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/labels-settings.png", newAttributeDialog: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/new-attribute-dialog.png", newCannedResponseDialog: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/new-canned-response-dialog.png", notificationPreferences: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/notification-preferences.png", notificationsPage: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/notifications-page.png", pickupTargetCard: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/pickup-target-card.png", resolveMenu: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/resolve-menu.png", searchDialog: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/search-dialog.png", seatGateConversation: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/seat-gate-conversation.png", seatsSettings: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/seats-settings.png", workTheInbox: "/docs/guides/live-chat/images/work-the-inbox.png" }, security: { addOpenRouterKeyDialog: "/docs/guides/security/images/add-open-router-key-dialog.png", auditChainVerified: "/docs/guides/security/images/audit-chain-verified.png", auditEventDrawer: "/docs/guides/security/images/audit-event-drawer.png", auditExportDialog: "/docs/guides/security/images/audit-export-dialog.png", auditLogViewer: "/docs/guides/security/images/audit-log-viewer.png", auditRecordLifecycle: "/docs/guides/security/images/audit-record-lifecycle.svg", logPrivacyRedactionEnabled: "/docs/guides/security/images/log-privacy-redaction-enabled.png", modelProviderEmptyState: "/docs/guides/security/images/model-provider-empty-state.png", privacySettings: "/docs/guides/security/images/privacy-settings.png", siemConnectWizard: "/docs/guides/security/images/siem-connect-wizard.png", supportActorMasking: "/docs/guides/security/images/support-actor-masking.svg" }, tools: { addToolModal: "/docs/guides/tools/images/add-tool-modal.png", addToolsPanel: "/docs/guides/tools/images/add-tools-panel.png", codekitActionEditor: "/docs/guides/tools/images/codekit-action-editor.png", codekitConnectToolkitsDialog: "/docs/guides/tools/images/codekit-connect-toolkits-dialog.png", codekitSchemaDialog: "/docs/guides/tools/images/codekit-schema-dialog.png", codekitToolkit: "/docs/guides/tools/images/codekit-toolkit.png", codekitToolkitAnatomy: "/docs/guides/tools/images/codekit-toolkit-anatomy.svg", createActionDialog: "/docs/guides/tools/images/create-action-dialog.png", createCodekitDialog: "/docs/guides/tools/images/create-codekit-dialog.png", responseFilteringDialog: "/docs/guides/tools/images/response-filtering-dialog.png", toolGambitEditorAgentMode: "/docs/guides/tools/images/tool-gambit-editor-agent-mode.png", toolGambitEditorWorkflowMode: "/docs/guides/tools/images/tool-gambit-editor-workflow-mode.png", toolkitDetail: "/docs/guides/tools/images/toolkit-detail.png", toolsConnected: "/docs/guides/tools/images/tools-connected.png", toolsDirectory: "/docs/guides/tools/images/tools-directory.png", viewActionsModal: "/docs/guides/tools/images/view-actions-modal.png", workflowModeResponse: "/docs/guides/tools/images/workflow-mode-response.png" } }; export const planNames = { premium: "Premium", enterprise: "Enterprise" }; export const props_0 = undefined A channel is a surface where end users talk to your agent. Web and WhatsApp are the available channels, and one flow can serve both. The Web channel is built into every agent. It runs through the agent link and the widget embed, and no account setup is needed. WhatsApp runs through a connected phone number, which Tars calls a channel account. ## Where WhatsApp numbers live This capability needs the **{planNames[props_0.plan] ?? props_0.plan}** plan or higher. WhatsApp numbers belong to your organization, not to one agent. They live in **Settings**, under the **Channels** group, on the **WhatsApp** page. That page lists every connected number with its assigned agent and its health. An organization Admin adds numbers there with **Connect WhatsApp number**. See [Connect WhatsApp](/docs/guides/channels/connect-whatsapp). Message templates live on the **Templates** tab of the **Campaigns** page. See [Manage WhatsApp templates](/docs/guides/channels/whatsapp-templates). ### Providers A WhatsApp number reaches WhatsApp through one of two providers. Both are part of the same WhatsApp channel, so conversations, campaigns, templates, and consent work the same way on either. * **Direct (Meta)** connects a WhatsApp Business Account through Facebook, and every number on that account joins the list. Meta bills message costs directly. * **360dialog** connects a number you already run on 360dialog with its API key. Tars bills message costs on your Tars invoice. The number detail sheet shows the **Provider** of each number. One organization can hold numbers on both providers. ### Health states Each row on the WhatsApp page shows a health badge next to a mode badge of **Production**, **Staging**, or **Test**. The same health badge appears on the **WhatsApp** card in Distribute. | Health badge | What it means | | ----------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Healthy** | The number is connected and needs no action. | | **Token expiring** | The Meta access token is close to expiring. Admins see an inline **Reconnect** link. | | **Token expired** | The Meta access token no longer works. An Admin reconnects the number with Facebook. | | **Pending** or **Setting up** | The number is still being set up with its provider. | | **Needs attention** | Setup failed, or Meta or 360dialog reported a problem. Open the number's detail sheet for guidance. | The token badges apply to Meta numbers only. A number with token trouble keeps its credentials and its agent assignment. Fixing the token brings it back to **Healthy** without repeating the assignment. ## From a channel account to a deployment Every agent has a deployment, which is the live setup that end users talk to. See [Deployments explained](/docs/guides/deploy/deployments-explained). Assigning a WhatsApp number to an agent attaches the number to that agent's deployment. Messages sent to the number then start conversations with that agent, on the flow that agent has published. The rule is one to one. A number routes to one agent, and an agent holds one number at a time. When you pick an agent for a number, agents that already have a number appear disabled with a **Used by** note. You can make the assignment from two places, and both change the same routing. * On the **WhatsApp** page, the **Agent** column has an **Assign agent** picker. It works number first: pick a number, then choose its agent. Admins and Members can use it. * In the builder, the **Distribute** section has a **Channels** group with a **WhatsApp** card. It works agent first: you are already in the agent, so you choose its number. Only Admins can change it. The **WhatsApp** card in Distribute reflects the state of the agent. See [Deployments explained](/docs/guides/deploy/deployments-explained) for each state of that card. ### Unassigned, reassigned, and removed numbers A number can be left unassigned. It keeps its credentials and shows a **Not connected** badge, and messages to it do not reach any agent. An **Assignment needs review** badge means the stored routing no longer resolves, and choosing an agent again confirms it. Replacing or clearing an agent on the WhatsApp page asks for confirmation first, because it changes where messages route. When an active or paused webhook campaign uses the number, any change also asks you to accept that replies can be interrupted. See [Run webhook campaigns](/docs/guides/campaigns/webhook-campaigns). Removing a number from your organization is different from removing its agent. Open conversations stay in the inbox, but new messages to that number no longer reach any agent. ## Channels, campaigns, and live chat Campaigns send approved template messages from a WhatsApp number that is connected to an agent. Replies come back to the agent on that number. See [Campaigns overview](/docs/guides/campaigns/campaigns-overview). Live chat works on both channels. Human agents reply to Web and WhatsApp conversations from the same inbox, and the inbox can filter by channel. See [Work the inbox](/docs/guides/live-chat/work-the-inbox). End users keep one profile across channels, so a person who chats on your site and later messages you on WhatsApp keeps one history. See [End user profiles](/docs/guides/end-users/profiles). Rich content is adapted to what each channel can show, and the builder warns you when a WhatsApp limit applies. See [Gambit mastery](/docs/guides/building/gambits/overview). A document or image an end user sends on WhatsApp is stored by Tars. An agent with the **File Reading** tool on can read it the same way as a widget upload. See [Built-in AI capabilities](/docs/guides/building/built-in-ai-capabilities#file-reading). ## Related pages * [Connect WhatsApp](/docs/guides/channels/connect-whatsapp) * [Manage WhatsApp templates](/docs/guides/channels/whatsapp-templates) * [Deployments explained](/docs/guides/deploy/deployments-explained) * [Campaigns overview](/docs/guides/campaigns/campaigns-overview) * [End user profiles](/docs/guides/end-users/profiles)