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# Chat & Messaging
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Comprehensive messaging functionality for sending, updating, and managing messages across channels, direct messages, and group conversations.
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## Capabilities
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### Message Posting
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Send messages to channels with rich formatting, attachments, and interactive elements.
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```python { .api }
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def post_message(self, channel, text=None, username=None, as_user=None, parse=None, link_names=None, attachments=None, unfurl_links=None, unfurl_media=None, icon_url=None, icon_emoji=None, thread_ts=None, reply_broadcast=None, blocks=None, mrkdwn=True):
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    """
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    Post a message to a channel.
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    Args:
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        channel (str): Channel ID or name (e.g., '#general', 'C1234567890')
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        text (str, optional): Message text content
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        username (str, optional): Username for the message sender
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        as_user (bool, optional): Send message as authenticated user
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        parse (str, optional): Parsing mode ('full', 'none')
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        link_names (bool, optional): Find and link channel/user names
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        attachments (list or str, optional): Message attachments (JSON string or list)
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        unfurl_links (bool, optional): Enable link unfurling
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        unfurl_media (bool, optional): Enable media unfurling
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        icon_url (str, optional): URL for message icon
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        icon_emoji (str, optional): Emoji for message icon
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        thread_ts (str, optional): Timestamp of parent message for threading
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        reply_broadcast (bool, optional): Broadcast threaded reply to channel
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        blocks (list, optional): Block Kit layout elements
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        mrkdwn (bool): Enable markdown parsing (default: True)
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    Returns:
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        Response: Contains message timestamp and channel information
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    """
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```
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Usage:
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```python
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# Simple message
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slack.chat.post_message('#general', 'Hello, world!')
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# Message with attachments
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attachments = [{"text": "Attachment text", "color": "good"}]
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slack.chat.post_message('#general', 'Main message', attachments=attachments)
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# Threaded reply
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slack.chat.post_message('#general', 'Reply text', thread_ts='1234567890.123456')
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```
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### Message Updates
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Update existing messages by changing text, attachments, or other properties.
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```python { .api }
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def update(self, channel, ts, text, attachments=None, parse=None, link_names=False, as_user=None, blocks=None):
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    """
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    Update an existing message.
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    Args:
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        channel (str): Channel containing the message
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        ts (str): Timestamp of message to update
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        text (str): New message text
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        attachments (list or str, optional): New attachments
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        parse (str, optional): Parsing mode
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        link_names (bool): Find and link names (default: False)
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        as_user (bool, optional): Update as authenticated user
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        blocks (list, optional): New Block Kit elements
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    Returns:
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        Response: Updated message information
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    """
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```
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### Message Deletion
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Delete messages from channels and conversations.
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```python { .api }
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def delete(self, channel, ts, as_user=False):
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    """
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    Delete a message.
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    Args:
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        channel (str): Channel containing the message
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        ts (str): Timestamp of message to delete
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        as_user (bool): Delete as authenticated user (default: False)
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    Returns:
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        Response: Deletion confirmation
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    """
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```
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### Ephemeral Messages
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Send private messages visible only to specific users within a channel.
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```python { .api }
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def post_ephemeral(self, channel, text, user, as_user=None, attachments=None, link_names=None, parse=None, blocks=None):
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    """
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    Post ephemeral message visible only to specific user.
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    Args:
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        channel (str): Channel to post in
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        text (str): Message text
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        user (str): User ID who will see the message
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        as_user (bool, optional): Send as authenticated user
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        attachments (list or str, optional): Message attachments
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        link_names (bool, optional): Link channel/user names
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        parse (str, optional): Parsing mode
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        blocks (list, optional): Block Kit elements
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    Returns:
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        Response: Ephemeral message confirmation
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    """
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```
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### Me Messages
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Send messages formatted as actions (similar to IRC /me commands).
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```python { .api }
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def me_message(self, channel, text):
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    """
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    Send an action message (appears as "* username text").
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    Args:
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        channel (str): Channel to send message to
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        text (str): Action text
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    Returns:
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        Response: Message information
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    """
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```
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### Slash Commands
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Execute slash commands programmatically within channels.
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```python { .api }
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def command(self, channel, command, text):
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    """
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    Execute a slash command.
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    Args:
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        channel (str): Channel to execute command in
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        command (str): Command name (with or without leading slash)
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        text (str): Command arguments
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    Returns:
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        Response: Command execution result
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    """
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```
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### Link Unfurling
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Provide custom unfurling for links in messages.
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```python { .api }
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def unfurl(self, channel, ts, unfurls, user_auth_message=None, user_auth_required=False, user_auth_url=None):
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    """
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    Provide custom unfurling for links in a message.
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    Args:
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        channel (str): Channel containing the message
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        ts (str): Message timestamp
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        unfurls (dict): URL unfurling information
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        user_auth_message (str, optional): Authentication message
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        user_auth_required (bool): Whether user auth is required (default: False)
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        user_auth_url (str, optional): Authentication URL
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    Returns:
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        Response: Unfurling result
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    """
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```
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### Permalink Generation
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Generate permanent links to specific messages.
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```python { .api }
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def get_permalink(self, channel, message_ts):
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    """
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    Get permalink URL for a message.
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    Args:
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        channel (str): Channel containing the message
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        message_ts (str): Message timestamp
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    Returns:
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        Response: Contains permalink URL
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    """
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```
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## Types
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```python { .api }
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class Chat(BaseAPI):
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    """Chat and messaging endpoint handler."""
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    def post_message(self, channel, text=None, username=None, as_user=None, parse=None, link_names=None, attachments=None, unfurl_links=None, unfurl_media=None, icon_url=None, icon_emoji=None, thread_ts=None, reply_broadcast=None, blocks=None, mrkdwn=True): ...
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    def me_message(self, channel, text): ...
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    def command(self, channel, command, text): ...
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    def update(self, channel, ts, text, attachments=None, parse=None, link_names=False, as_user=None, blocks=None): ...
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    def delete(self, channel, ts, as_user=False): ...
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    def post_ephemeral(self, channel, text, user, as_user=None, attachments=None, link_names=None, parse=None, blocks=None): ...
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    def unfurl(self, channel, ts, unfurls, user_auth_message=None, user_auth_required=False, user_auth_url=None): ...
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    def get_permalink(self, channel, message_ts): ...
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```