Also known as Whatsapp.com, WA Messenger, Wa.me
WhatsApp Messenger, commonly known simply as WhatsApp, is an American social media, instant messaging (IM), and Voice over IP (VoIP) service accessible via desktop and mobile app. Owned by Meta Platforms, the service allows users to send text messages, voice messages, and video messages, make voice and video calls, and share images, documents, user locations, and other content. The service requires a cellular mobile telephone number to register. WhatsApp was launched in May 2009. In January 2018, WhatsApp released a standalone business app called WhatsApp Business which can communicate with th
WhatsApp is a messaging and calling app owned by Meta that lets users send text, voice, and video messages, make calls, and share files and photos using internet connection instead of traditional phone services. It matters because it's a widely-used alternative to standard texting and calling that works across devices and countries, making communication cheaper and more flexible for billions of people worldwide.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
In the Vinony graph
Vinony's link graph records 1,790 inbound references to WhatsApp, and connects out to Line, videotelephony and Telegram (software).
It is catalogued under topics including 2009 software, 2014 mergers and acquisitions and Android Auto software.
Vinony links it to 126 Wikipedia language editions.
Wikipedia views (30d)
377,149 totalvia Wikimedia Pageviews API
Key facts
- Software.name
- Software.title
- WhatsApp Messenger
- Software.logo_upright
- 0.6
- Software.collapsible
- no
- Software.screenshot
- WhatsApp on Android screenshot.png
- Software.screenshot alt
- Screenshot depicting WhatsApp's home screen in 2025
- Software.caption
- Screenshot depicting WhatsApp's home screen in 2025
- Software.author
- Brian Acton, Jan Koum
- Software.developer
- Meta Platforms, Will Cathcart (Head of WhatsApp)
- Software.ver layout
- stacked
- Software.programming language
- Erlang
- Software.operating system
- Android, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Windows, Wear OS, Meta Quest, watchOS
- Software.size
- 183.7 MB (iOS) 48.02 MB (Android)
- Software.genre
- Social media, instant messaging, VoIP
- Software.language count
- 40 (iOS) and 60 (Android)
- Software.license
- Proprietary software with EULA"European Region""others"
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- project
- Has part
- Signal Protocol
- Founded by
- Jan Koum
- Headquarters
- Menlo Park
- Based on
- XMPP
- Developer
- Meta
- Platform
- Android
- Official website
- whatsapp.com
Show 17 more facts
- inception
- 2009-02-24
- operating system
- Android
- Commons category
- Stack Exchange tag
- stackoverflow.com/tags/whatsapp
- programmed in
- Erlang
- software version identifier
- 2.26.11.12
- topic's main category
- Category:WhatsApp
- copyright license
- proprietary license
- publication date
- 2009-01-01
- distributed by
- Google Play
- official blog URL
- blog.whatsapp.com
- API endpoint URL
- api.whatsapp.com
- input device
- touchscreen
- number of subscribers
- 2780000000
- social media followers
- 6510000
- source code repository URL
- github.com/whatsapp
Sources (15)
via Wikidata · CC0
~40 min read
Encyclopedic overview
61 sectionsContents
- History
- 2009–2014
- 2014–2015
- 2016–2019
- Since 2020
- Features
- Presence
- General texting
- Voice and video calling and notes
- File sharing
- Security and encryption
- Linked and multi-device support
- Stickers and avatars
- Communities and Channels
- Artificial intelligence
- Parent-managed accounts
- About
- Platform support
- Linked devices
- WhatsApp Web
- Windows and Mac
- iPad
- Smartwatches
- Technical
- End-to-end encryption
- WhatsApp Payments
- India
- Facebook/WhatsApp cryptocurrency project, 2019–2022
- Controversies and criticism
- Misinformation
- Murders in India
- 2018 elections in Brazil
- Security and privacy
- UK institutions
- Mods and fake versions
- WhatsApp snooping scandal
- Jeff Bezos phone hack
- FBI
- Tek Fog
- Terrorism
- Scams and malware
- Bans
- China
- Iran
- Turkey
- Brazil
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Cuba
- Switzerland
- Zambia
- Saudi Arabia
- Russia
- Third-party clients
- WhatsApp Business
- User statistics
- Specific markets
- Competition
- See also
- References
- External links
Preview release(s) [±]
Written inErlang Operating systemAndroid, iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Windows, Wear OS, Meta Quest, watchOS Size183.7 MB (iOS)
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “WhatsApp” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.
Gallery (4)
Available in 126 languages
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