Ephemeral messages

Bot API 10.2 adds ephemeral messages: a message a bot sends into a group that only one specific user and the bot can see. The bot chooses the recipient with receiver_user_id, or answers a callback query with an ephemeral message using callback_query_id.

Sending

receiver_user_id and callback_query_id are available on send_message and the other common send methods.

await bot.send_message(
    chat_id,
    "Only you can see this.",
    receiver_user_id=user_id,
)

Editing and deleting

An ephemeral message is identified by its chat, the recipient, and its ephemeral_message_id. Each method returns True on success. The recipient may miss the change if they are offline.

await bot.edit_ephemeral_message_text(
    chat_id, receiver_user_id, ephemeral_message_id, "Updated text."
)
await bot.delete_ephemeral_message(chat_id, receiver_user_id, ephemeral_message_id)

The companion methods are edit_ephemeral_message_media, edit_ephemeral_message_caption, and edit_ephemeral_message_reply_markup.

Replying

To reply to an incoming ephemeral message, pass reply_parameters with its ephemeral_message_id. A reply to an ephemeral message must itself be ephemeral, and it must be sent within 15 seconds.

from moonlygram import ReplyParameters

await bot.send_message(
    chat_id,
    "Replying just to you.",
    receiver_user_id=user_id,
    reply_parameters=ReplyParameters(ephemeral_message_id=incoming_id),
)

An incoming ephemeral message carries Message.receiver_user and Message.ephemeral_message_id.