Context

When your bot receives an update from Telegram, grammY wraps it in a context object. Context objects are passed to all middleware and provide convenient shortcuts for working with the Telegram Bot API.

What is a Context?

A context object does two main things:

Holds the update - Access the raw update via ctx.update
Provides API shortcuts - Call Bot API methods with pre-filled parameters

import { Context } from 'grammy'

bot.on('message', (ctx: Context) => {
  // Access the update
  console.log(ctx.update)
  
  // Access the message
  console.log(ctx.message)
  
  // Reply to the message
  await ctx.reply('Got your message!')
})

Context Properties

Every context object has these core properties:

Update

The complete update object from Telegram

Api

The Bot API instance for making API calls

UserFromGetMe

Information about your bot

string | RegExpMatchArray | undefined

Populated by methods like hears(), command(), and callbackQuery() with matched content

Update Shortcuts

Instead of accessing ctx.update.message, use convenient shortcuts:

Direct Update Properties

bot.on('message', (ctx) => {
  // All of these are shortcuts to ctx.update.*
  ctx.message              // ctx.update.message
  ctx.editedMessage        // ctx.update.edited_message
  ctx.channelPost          // ctx.update.channel_post
  ctx.editedChannelPost    // ctx.update.edited_channel_post
  ctx.inlineQuery          // ctx.update.inline_query
  ctx.callbackQuery        // ctx.update.callback_query
  ctx.shippingQuery        // ctx.update.shipping_query
  ctx.preCheckoutQuery     // ctx.update.pre_checkout_query
  ctx.myChatMember         // ctx.update.my_chat_member
  ctx.chatMember           // ctx.update.chat_member
  ctx.chatJoinRequest      // ctx.update.chat_join_request
  ctx.messageReaction      // ctx.update.message_reaction
  ctx.messageReactionCount // ctx.update.message_reaction_count
  ctx.chatBoost            // ctx.update.chat_boost
  ctx.removedChatBoost     // ctx.update.removed_chat_boost
  
  // Business updates
  ctx.businessConnection       // ctx.update.business_connection
  ctx.businessMessage          // ctx.update.business_message
  ctx.editedBusinessMessage    // ctx.update.edited_business_message
  ctx.deletedBusinessMessages  // ctx.update.deleted_business_messages
  
  // Other updates
  ctx.poll                     // ctx.update.poll
  ctx.pollAnswer               // ctx.update.poll_answer
  ctx.chosenInlineResult       // ctx.update.chosen_inline_result
  ctx.purchasedPaidMedia       // ctx.update.purchased_paid_media
})

Aggregation Shortcuts

These shortcuts intelligently aggregate data from multiple possible sources:

`ctx.msg`

Get the message from wherever it appears in the update:

bot.on('message', (ctx) => {
  // ctx.msg works for all of these:
  // - ctx.message
  // - ctx.editedMessage
  // - ctx.channelPost
  // - ctx.editedChannelPost
  // - ctx.businessMessage
  // - ctx.editedBusinessMessage
  // - ctx.callbackQuery.message
  
  const msg = ctx.msg
  console.log(msg?.text)
})

`ctx.chat`

Get the chat from wherever possible:

bot.on('message', (ctx) => {
  // Available from:
  // - ctx.msg?.chat
  // - ctx.myChatMember?.chat
  // - ctx.chatMember?.chat
  // - ctx.chatJoinRequest?.chat
  // - ctx.messageReaction?.chat
  // - ctx.chatBoost?.chat
  // - etc.
  
  const chat = ctx.chat
  console.log(`Chat ID: ${chat?.id}`)
  console.log(`Chat type: ${chat?.type}`)
})

`ctx.from`

Get the user who triggered the update:

bot.on('message', (ctx) => {
  // Available from:
  // - ctx.msg?.from
  // - ctx.callbackQuery?.from
  // - ctx.inlineQuery?.from
  // - ctx.chosenInlineResult?.from
  // - ctx.myChatMember?.from
  // - ctx.chatMember?.from
  // - ctx.messageReaction?.user
  // - etc.
  
  const user = ctx.from
  console.log(`User: ${user?.first_name} (@${user?.username})`)
})

Other Aggregations

Chat | undefined

The sender chat from ctx.msg?.sender_chat

number | undefined

Message ID from ctx.msg, ctx.messageReaction, or ctx.messageReactionCount

number | undefined

Chat ID from ctx.chat?.id or ctx.businessConnection?.user_chat_id

string | undefined

Inline message ID from ctx.callbackQuery or ctx.chosenInlineResult

string | undefined

Business connection ID from various business-related updates

API Shortcuts

Context provides convenient methods that are shortcuts to ctx.api.* with pre-filled parameters.

Sending Messages

`ctx.reply()`

Reply to the current chat:

bot.on('message:text', async (ctx) => {
  await ctx.reply('You said: ' + ctx.message.text)
  
  // Equivalent to:
  await ctx.api.sendMessage(
    ctx.chat.id,
    'You said: ' + ctx.message.text,
    { message_thread_id: ctx.message.message_thread_id }
  )
})

await ctx.reply('Hello!')

await ctx.reply('Hello!', {
  parse_mode: 'Markdown',
  reply_markup: {
    inline_keyboard: [[
      { text: 'Button', callback_data: 'btn' }
    ]]
  }
})

await ctx.reply('Reply!', {
  reply_parameters: {
    message_id: ctx.message.message_id
  }
})

`ctx.replyWithPhoto()`

await ctx.replyWithPhoto(
  'https://grammy.dev/images/grammY.png',
  { caption: 'grammY logo' }
)

Other Reply Methods

ctx.replyWithAudio() - Send audio files
ctx.replyWithDocument() - Send documents
ctx.replyWithVideo() - Send videos
ctx.replyWithAnimation() - Send animations/GIFs
ctx.replyWithVoice() - Send voice messages
ctx.replyWithVideoNote() - Send video notes
ctx.replyWithSticker() - Send stickers
ctx.replyWithDice() - Send dice
ctx.replyWithPoll() - Send polls
ctx.replyWithLocation() - Send locations
ctx.replyWithVenue() - Send venues
ctx.replyWithContact() - Send contacts
ctx.replyWithInvoice() - Send invoices
ctx.replyWithGame() - Send games

Forwarding and Copying

`ctx.forwardMessage()`

// Forward the current message to another chat
await ctx.forwardMessage(targetChatId)

`ctx.copyMessage()`

// Copy the current message to another chat (without forward header)
await ctx.copyMessage(targetChatId)

Message Editing

bot.on('callback_query:data', async (ctx) => {
  // Edit the message that has the button
  await ctx.editMessageText('Updated text!')
  
  // Edit other properties
  await ctx.editMessageCaption('New caption')
  await ctx.editMessageMedia({ type: 'photo', media: 'url' })
  await ctx.editMessageReplyMarkup({ inline_keyboard: [[]] })
  
  // Delete the message
  await ctx.deleteMessage()
})

Callback Query Handling

bot.on('callback_query', async (ctx) => {
  // Must always answer callback queries!
  await ctx.answerCallbackQuery()
  
  // With an alert
  await ctx.answerCallbackQuery({
    text: 'Button clicked!',
    show_alert: true
  })
})

User and Chat Actions

// Show typing indicator
await ctx.replyWithChatAction('typing')

// Ban a user
await ctx.banChatMember(userId)

// Unban a user
await ctx.unbanChatMember(userId)

// Set chat photo
await ctx.setChatPhoto({ source: '/path/to/photo.jpg' })

// Leave chat
await ctx.leaveChat()

Helper Methods

`ctx.entities()`

Extract entities from messages:

bot.on('message:text', (ctx) => {
  // Get all entities with their text
  const entities = ctx.entities()
  
  entities.forEach(entity => {
    console.log(`${entity.type}: ${entity.text}`)
  })
  
  // Get specific entity types
  const urls = ctx.entities('url')
  const mentions = ctx.entities(['mention', 'text_mention'])
})

`ctx.reactions()`

Analyze reaction updates:

bot.on('message_reaction', (ctx) => {
  const r = ctx.reactions()
  
  console.log('Current emoji:', r.emoji)
  console.log('Added emoji:', r.emojiAdded)
  console.log('Removed emoji:', r.emojiRemoved)
  console.log('Kept emoji:', r.emojiKept)
  
  console.log('Custom emoji:', r.customEmoji)
  console.log('Has paid reaction:', r.paid)
  console.log('Just added paid:', r.paidAdded)
})

Context Predicates

Test if a context matches certain conditions:

`ctx.has()`

Check if context matches a filter query:

bot.use((ctx) => {
  if (ctx.has(':text')) {
    // ctx is now typed to have text
    console.log(ctx.msg.text)
  }
  
  if (ctx.has('message:photo')) {
    // ctx.message and ctx.message.photo are guaranteed
    console.log('Photo received')
  }
})

Specialized Predicates

if (ctx.hasText('hello')) {
  // Text is exactly 'hello'
}

if (ctx.hasText(/^hello/i)) {
  // Text matches regex
  console.log(ctx.match) // RegExpMatchArray
}

if (ctx.hasCommand('start')) {
  // Has /start command
  console.log(ctx.match) // Text after command
}

if (ctx.hasChatType('private')) {
  // Is a private chat
}

if (ctx.hasCallbackQuery('button-data')) {
  // Callback query data matches
}

if (ctx.hasReaction('👍')) {
  // New thumbs up reaction
}

Static Predicates

Generate reusable predicate functions:

import { Context } from 'grammy'

// Create predicates
const isAdmin = Context.has.filterQuery(':from:id')
const hasPhoto = Context.has.filterQuery('message:photo')
const hasUrl = Context.has.text(/https?:\/\//)

// Use in middleware
bot.use((ctx) => {
  if (hasPhoto(ctx)) {
    // ctx is typed correctly
    console.log('Photo size:', ctx.message.photo.length)
  }
})

Custom Context

Extend the context with your own properties:

import { Context } from 'grammy'

interface MyContext extends Context {
  session: {
    count: number
    username?: string
  }
}

const bot = new Bot<MyContext>('TOKEN')

// Middleware can now access custom properties
bot.use((ctx) => {
  ctx.session.count++
})

Custom Context Constructor

Create a custom context class:

class MyContext extends Context {
  constructor(
    update: Update,
    api: Api,
    me: UserFromGetMe
  ) {
    super(update, api, me)
  }
  
  // Add custom methods
  replyWithError(message: string) {
    return this.reply(`❌ Error: ${message}`)
  }
  
  get userName(): string {
    return this.from?.first_name ?? 'Unknown'
  }
}

// Pass to Bot constructor
const bot = new Bot('TOKEN', {
  ContextConstructor: MyContext
})

bot.on('message', (ctx) => {
  await ctx.replyWithError('Something went wrong')
  console.log(`Message from ${ctx.userName}`)
})

Type Narrowing

Filter queries automatically narrow context types:

// ctx.message is guaranteed to exist and have text
bot.on('message:text', (ctx) => {
  const text: string = ctx.message.text
  //    ^-- Type is string, not string | undefined
})

// Multiple properties guaranteed
bot.on('message:photo', (ctx) => {
  const photos = ctx.message.photo // Photo[]
  const caption = ctx.message.caption // string | undefined
})

// Nested properties
bot.on('message:entities:url', (ctx) => {
  const entities = ctx.message.entities // MessageEntity[]
  // At least one entity is type 'url'
})

Context in Action

Here’s a complete example showing various context features:

import { Bot } from 'grammy'

const bot = new Bot('TOKEN')

bot.command('start', async (ctx) => {
  const user = ctx.from
  await ctx.reply(
    `Welcome, ${user?.first_name}!\n\n` +
    `Your ID: ${user?.id}\n` +
    `Chat ID: ${ctx.chat?.id}\n` +
    `Message ID: ${ctx.msgId}`
  )
})

bot.on('message:text', async (ctx) => {
  // Extract entities
  const urls = ctx.entities('url')
  if (urls.length > 0) {
    await ctx.reply(
      `Found ${urls.length} URL(s):\n` +
      urls.map(e => e.text).join('\n')
    )
  }
})

bot.on('callback_query:data', async (ctx) => {
  await ctx.answerCallbackQuery('Processing...')
  
  const data = ctx.callbackQuery.data
  if (data === 'delete') {
    await ctx.deleteMessage()
  } else {
    await ctx.editMessageText(`You clicked: ${data}`)
  }
})

bot.on('message_reaction', async (ctx) => {
  const r = ctx.reactions()
  if (r.emojiAdded.includes('👍')) {
    await ctx.reply('Thanks for the thumbs up!')
  }
})

await bot.start()

Best Practices

Use ShortcutsPrefer context shortcuts over direct update access:

// Good
const text = ctx.message?.text

// Better
const text = ctx.msg?.text

Type Safety with Filter QueriesUse filter queries for automatic type narrowing:

// No type guards needed
bot.on('message:text', (ctx) => {
  const text = ctx.message.text // Type is string
})

Don’t Mutate ContextThe context object should be treated as read-only except for the match property and any custom properties you add.

Middleware - How context flows through middleware
Filter Queries - Filtering context objects
Bot - The Bot class that creates contexts

Get Started

Core Concepts

Advanced

Plugins

What is a Context?

Context Properties

Update Shortcuts

Direct Update Properties

Aggregation Shortcuts

`ctx.msg`

`ctx.chat`

`ctx.from`

Other Aggregations

API Shortcuts

Sending Messages

`ctx.reply()`

`ctx.replyWithPhoto()`

Other Reply Methods

Forwarding and Copying

`ctx.forwardMessage()`

`ctx.copyMessage()`

Message Editing

Callback Query Handling

User and Chat Actions

Helper Methods

`ctx.entities()`

`ctx.reactions()`

Context Predicates

`ctx.has()`

Specialized Predicates

Static Predicates

Custom Context

Custom Context Constructor

Type Narrowing

Context in Action

Best Practices

​What is a Context?

​Context Properties

​Update Shortcuts

​Direct Update Properties

​Aggregation Shortcuts

​ctx.msg

​ctx.chat

​ctx.from

​Other Aggregations

​API Shortcuts

​Sending Messages

​ctx.reply()

​ctx.replyWithPhoto()

​Other Reply Methods

​Forwarding and Copying

​ctx.forwardMessage()

​ctx.copyMessage()

​Message Editing

​Callback Query Handling

​User and Chat Actions

​Helper Methods

​ctx.entities()

​ctx.reactions()

​Context Predicates

​ctx.has()

​Specialized Predicates

​Static Predicates

​Custom Context

​Custom Context Constructor

​Type Narrowing

​Context in Action

​Best Practices

​Related

What is a Context?

Context Properties

Update Shortcuts

Direct Update Properties

Aggregation Shortcuts

`ctx.msg`

`ctx.chat`

`ctx.from`

Other Aggregations

API Shortcuts

Sending Messages

`ctx.reply()`

`ctx.replyWithPhoto()`

Other Reply Methods

Forwarding and Copying

`ctx.forwardMessage()`

`ctx.copyMessage()`

Message Editing

Callback Query Handling

User and Chat Actions

Helper Methods

`ctx.entities()`

`ctx.reactions()`

Context Predicates

`ctx.has()`

Specialized Predicates

Static Predicates

Custom Context

Custom Context Constructor

Type Narrowing

Context in Action

Best Practices

Related