## Send a message to an existing chat

`chats.messages.send(strchat_id, MessageSendParams**kwargs)  -> MessageSendResponse`

**post** `/v3/chats/{chatId}/messages`

Send a message to an existing chat. Use this endpoint when you already have
a chat ID and want to send additional messages to it.

## Message Effects

You can add iMessage effects to make your messages more expressive. Effects are
optional and can be either screen effects (full-screen animations) or bubble effects
(message bubble animations).

**Screen Effects:** `confetti`, `fireworks`, `lasers`, `sparkles`, `celebration`,
`hearts`, `love`, `balloons`, `happy_birthday`, `echo`, `spotlight`

**Bubble Effects:** `slam`, `loud`, `gentle`, `invisible`

Only one effect type can be applied per message.

## Inline Text Decorations (iMessage only)

Use the `text_decorations` array on a text part to apply styling and animations to character ranges.

Each decoration specifies a `range: [start, end)` and exactly one of `style` or `animation`.

**Styles:** `bold`, `italic`, `strikethrough`, `underline`
**Animations:** `big`, `small`, `shake`, `nod`, `explode`, `ripple`, `bloom`, `jitter`

```json
{
  "type": "text",
  "value": "Hello world",
  "text_decorations": [
    { "range": [0, 5], "style": "bold" },
    { "range": [6, 11], "animation": "shake" }
  ]
}
```

**Note:** Style ranges (bold, italic, etc.) may overlap, but animation ranges must not overlap with other animations or styles. Text decorations only render for iMessage recipients.
For SMS/RCS, text decorations are not applied.

### Parameters

- `chat_id: str`

- `message: MessageContentParam`

  Message content container. Groups all message-related fields together,
  separating the "what" (message content) from the "where" (routing fields like from/to).

  - `parts: List[Part]`

    Array of message parts. Each part can be text, media, or link.
    Parts are displayed in order. Text and media can be mixed freely,
    but a `link` part must be the only part in the message.

    **Rich Link Previews:**

    - Use a `link` part to send a URL with a rich preview card
    - A `link` part must be the **only** part in the message
    - To send a URL as plain text (no preview), use a `text` part instead

    **Supported Media:**

    - Images: .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .heic, .heif, .tif, .tiff, .bmp
    - Videos: .mp4, .mov, .m4v, .mpeg, .mpg, .3gp
    - Audio: .m4a, .mp3, .aac, .caf, .wav, .aiff, .amr
    - Documents: .pdf, .txt, .rtf, .csv, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx, .pages, .numbers, .key, .epub, .zip, .html, .htm
    - Contact & Calendar: .vcf, .ics

    **Audio:**

    - Audio files (.m4a, .mp3, .aac, .caf, .wav, .aiff, .amr) are fully supported as media parts
    - To send audio as an **iMessage voice memo bubble** (inline playback UI), use the dedicated
      `/v3/chats/{chatId}/voicememo` endpoint instead

    **Validation Rules:**

    - A `link` part must be the **only** part in the message. It cannot be combined
      with text or media parts.
    - Consecutive text parts are not allowed. Text parts must be separated by
      media parts. For example, [text, text] is invalid, but [text, media, text] is valid.
    - Maximum of **100 parts** total.
    - Media parts using a public `url` (downloaded by the server on send) are
      capped at **40**. Parts using `attachment_id` or presigned URLs
      are exempt from this sub-limit. For bulk media sends exceeding 40 files,
      pre-upload via `POST /v3/attachments` and reference by `attachment_id` or `download_url`.

    - `class TextPart: …`

      - `type: Literal["text"]`

        Indicates this is a text message part

        - `"text"`

      - `value: str`

        The text content of the message. This value is sent as-is with no parsing or transformation — Markdown syntax will be delivered as plain text. Use `text_decorations` to apply inline formatting and animations (iMessage only).

      - `text_decorations: Optional[List[TextDecoration]]`

        Optional array of text decorations applied to character ranges in the `value` field (iMessage only).

        Each decoration specifies a character range `[start, end)` and exactly one of `style` or `animation`.

        **Styles:** `bold`, `italic`, `strikethrough`, `underline`
        **Animations:** `big`, `small`, `shake`, `nod`, `explode`, `ripple`, `bloom`, `jitter`

        Style ranges may overlap (e.g. bold + italic on the same text), but animation ranges must not overlap with other animations or styles.

        *Characters are measured as UTF-16 code units. Most characters count as 1; some emoji count as 2.*

        **Note:** Text decorations only render for iMessage recipients. For SMS/RCS, text decorations are not applied.

        - `range: List[int]`

          Character range `[start, end)` in the `value` string where the decoration applies.
          `start` is inclusive, `end` is exclusive.
          *Characters are measured as UTF-16 code units. Most characters count as 1; some emoji count as 2.*

        - `animation: Optional[Literal["big", "small", "shake", 5 more]]`

          Animated text effect to apply. Mutually exclusive with `style`.

          - `"big"`

          - `"small"`

          - `"shake"`

          - `"nod"`

          - `"explode"`

          - `"ripple"`

          - `"bloom"`

          - `"jitter"`

        - `style: Optional[Literal["bold", "italic", "strikethrough", "underline"]]`

          Text style to apply. Mutually exclusive with `animation`.

          - `"bold"`

          - `"italic"`

          - `"strikethrough"`

          - `"underline"`

    - `class MediaPart: …`

      - `type: Literal["media"]`

        Indicates this is a media attachment part

        - `"media"`

      - `attachment_id: Optional[str]`

        Reference to a file pre-uploaded via `POST /v3/attachments` (optional).
        The file is already stored, so sends using this ID skip the download step —
        useful when sending the same file to many recipients.

        Either `url` or `attachment_id` must be provided, but not both.

      - `url: Optional[str]`

        Any publicly accessible HTTPS URL to the media file. The server downloads and
        sends the file automatically — no pre-upload step required.

        **Size limit:** 10MB maximum for URL-based downloads. For larger files (up to 100MB),
        use the pre-upload flow: `POST /v3/attachments` to get a presigned URL, upload directly,
        then reference by `attachment_id`.

        **Requirements:**

        - URL must use HTTPS
        - File content must be a supported format (the server validates the actual file content)

        **Supported formats:**

        - Images: .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .heic, .heif, .tif, .tiff, .bmp
        - Videos: .mp4, .mov, .m4v, .mpeg, .mpg, .3gp
        - Audio: .m4a, .mp3, .aac, .caf, .wav, .aiff, .amr
        - Documents: .pdf, .txt, .rtf, .csv, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx, .pages, .numbers, .key, .epub, .zip, .html, .htm
        - Contact & Calendar: .vcf, .ics

        **Tip:** Audio sent here appears as a regular file attachment. To send audio as an
        iMessage voice memo bubble (with inline playback), use `/v3/chats/{chatId}/voicememo`.
        For repeated sends of the same file, use `attachment_id` to avoid redundant downloads.

        Either `url` or `attachment_id` must be provided, but not both.

    - `class LinkPart: …`

      - `type: Literal["link"]`

        Indicates this is a rich link preview part

        - `"link"`

      - `value: str`

        URL to send with a rich link preview. The recipient will see an inline card
        with the page's title, description, and preview image (when available).

        A `link` part must be the **only** part in the message. To send a URL as plain
        text (no preview card), use a `text` part instead.

  - `effect: Optional[MessageEffect]`

    iMessage effect to apply to this message (screen or bubble effect)

    - `name: Optional[str]`

      Name of the effect. Common values:

      - Screen effects: confetti, fireworks, lasers, sparkles, celebration, hearts, love, balloons, happy_birthday, echo, spotlight
      - Bubble effects: slam, loud, gentle, invisible

    - `type: Optional[Literal["screen", "bubble"]]`

      Type of effect

      - `"screen"`

      - `"bubble"`

  - `idempotency_key: Optional[str]`

    Optional idempotency key for this message.
    Use this to prevent duplicate sends of the same message.

  - `preferred_service: Optional[ServiceType]`

    Messaging service type

    - `"iMessage"`

    - `"SMS"`

    - `"RCS"`

  - `reply_to: Optional[ReplyTo]`

    Reply to another message to create a threaded conversation

    - `message_id: str`

      The ID of the message to reply to

    - `part_index: Optional[int]`

      The specific message part to reply to (0-based index).
      Defaults to 0 (first part) if not provided.
      Use this when replying to a specific part of a multipart message.

### Returns

- `class MessageSendResponse: …`

  Response for sending a message to a chat

  - `chat_id: str`

    Unique identifier of the chat this message was sent to

  - `message: SentMessage`

    A message that was sent (used in CreateChat and SendMessage responses)

    - `id: str`

      Message identifier (UUID)

    - `created_at: datetime`

      When the message was created

    - `delivery_status: Literal["pending", "queued", "sent", 2 more]`

      Current delivery status of a message

      - `"pending"`

      - `"queued"`

      - `"sent"`

      - `"delivered"`

      - `"failed"`

    - `is_read: bool`

      Whether the message has been read

    - `parts: List[Part]`

      Message parts in order (text, media, and link)

      - `class TextPartResponse: …`

        A text message part

        - `reactions: Optional[List[Reaction]]`

          Reactions on this message part

          - `handle: ChatHandle`

            - `id: str`

              Unique identifier for this handle

            - `handle: str`

              Phone number (E.164) or email address of the participant

            - `joined_at: datetime`

              When this participant joined the chat

            - `service: ServiceType`

              Messaging service type

              - `"iMessage"`

              - `"SMS"`

              - `"RCS"`

            - `is_me: Optional[bool]`

              Whether this handle belongs to the sender (your phone number)

            - `left_at: Optional[datetime]`

              When they left (if applicable)

            - `status: Optional[Literal["active", "left", "removed"]]`

              Participant status

              - `"active"`

              - `"left"`

              - `"removed"`

          - `is_me: bool`

            Whether this reaction is from the current user

          - `type: ReactionType`

            Type of reaction. Standard iMessage tapbacks are love, like, dislike, laugh, emphasize, question.
            Custom emoji reactions have type "custom" with the actual emoji in the custom_emoji field.
            Sticker reactions have type "sticker" with sticker attachment details in the sticker field.

            - `"love"`

            - `"like"`

            - `"dislike"`

            - `"laugh"`

            - `"emphasize"`

            - `"question"`

            - `"custom"`

            - `"sticker"`

          - `custom_emoji: Optional[str]`

            Custom emoji if type is "custom", null otherwise

          - `sticker: Optional[Sticker]`

            Sticker attachment details when reaction_type is "sticker". Null for non-sticker reactions.

            - `file_name: Optional[str]`

              Filename of the sticker

            - `height: Optional[int]`

              Sticker image height in pixels

            - `mime_type: Optional[str]`

              MIME type of the sticker image

            - `url: Optional[str]`

              Presigned URL for downloading the sticker image (expires in 1 hour).

            - `width: Optional[int]`

              Sticker image width in pixels

        - `type: Literal["text"]`

          Indicates this is a text message part

          - `"text"`

        - `value: str`

          The text content

        - `text_decorations: Optional[List[TextDecoration]]`

          Text decorations applied to character ranges in the value

          - `range: List[int]`

            Character range `[start, end)` in the `value` string where the decoration applies.
            `start` is inclusive, `end` is exclusive.
            *Characters are measured as UTF-16 code units. Most characters count as 1; some emoji count as 2.*

          - `animation: Optional[Literal["big", "small", "shake", 5 more]]`

            Animated text effect to apply. Mutually exclusive with `style`.

            - `"big"`

            - `"small"`

            - `"shake"`

            - `"nod"`

            - `"explode"`

            - `"ripple"`

            - `"bloom"`

            - `"jitter"`

          - `style: Optional[Literal["bold", "italic", "strikethrough", "underline"]]`

            Text style to apply. Mutually exclusive with `animation`.

            - `"bold"`

            - `"italic"`

            - `"strikethrough"`

            - `"underline"`

      - `class MediaPartResponse: …`

        A media attachment part

        - `id: str`

          Unique attachment identifier

        - `filename: str`

          Original filename

        - `mime_type: str`

          MIME type of the file

        - `reactions: Optional[List[Reaction]]`

          Reactions on this message part

          - `handle: ChatHandle`

          - `is_me: bool`

            Whether this reaction is from the current user

          - `type: ReactionType`

            Type of reaction. Standard iMessage tapbacks are love, like, dislike, laugh, emphasize, question.
            Custom emoji reactions have type "custom" with the actual emoji in the custom_emoji field.
            Sticker reactions have type "sticker" with sticker attachment details in the sticker field.

          - `custom_emoji: Optional[str]`

            Custom emoji if type is "custom", null otherwise

          - `sticker: Optional[Sticker]`

            Sticker attachment details when reaction_type is "sticker". Null for non-sticker reactions.

        - `size_bytes: int`

          File size in bytes

        - `type: Literal["media"]`

          Indicates this is a media attachment part

          - `"media"`

        - `url: str`

          Presigned URL for downloading the attachment (expires in 1 hour).

      - `class LinkPartResponse: …`

        A rich link preview part

        - `reactions: Optional[List[Reaction]]`

          Reactions on this message part

          - `handle: ChatHandle`

          - `is_me: bool`

            Whether this reaction is from the current user

          - `type: ReactionType`

            Type of reaction. Standard iMessage tapbacks are love, like, dislike, laugh, emphasize, question.
            Custom emoji reactions have type "custom" with the actual emoji in the custom_emoji field.
            Sticker reactions have type "sticker" with sticker attachment details in the sticker field.

          - `custom_emoji: Optional[str]`

            Custom emoji if type is "custom", null otherwise

          - `sticker: Optional[Sticker]`

            Sticker attachment details when reaction_type is "sticker". Null for non-sticker reactions.

        - `type: Literal["link"]`

          Indicates this is a rich link preview part

          - `"link"`

        - `value: str`

          The URL

    - `sent_at: Optional[datetime]`

      When the message was actually sent (null if still queued)

    - `delivered_at: Optional[datetime]`

      When the message was delivered

    - `effect: Optional[MessageEffect]`

      iMessage effect applied to a message (screen or bubble effect)

      - `name: Optional[str]`

        Name of the effect. Common values:

        - Screen effects: confetti, fireworks, lasers, sparkles, celebration, hearts, love, balloons, happy_birthday, echo, spotlight
        - Bubble effects: slam, loud, gentle, invisible

      - `type: Optional[Literal["screen", "bubble"]]`

        Type of effect

        - `"screen"`

        - `"bubble"`

    - `from_handle: Optional[ChatHandle]`

      The sender of this message as a full handle object

    - `preferred_service: Optional[ServiceType]`

      Messaging service type

    - `reply_to: Optional[ReplyTo]`

      Indicates this message is a threaded reply to another message

      - `message_id: str`

        The ID of the message to reply to

      - `part_index: Optional[int]`

        The specific message part to reply to (0-based index).
        Defaults to 0 (first part) if not provided.
        Use this when replying to a specific part of a multipart message.

    - `service: Optional[ServiceType]`

      Messaging service type

### Example

```python
import os
from linq import LinqAPIV3

client = LinqAPIV3(
    api_key=os.environ.get("LINQ_API_V3_API_KEY"),  # This is the default and can be omitted
)
response = client.chats.messages.send(
    chat_id="550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
    message={
        "parts": [{
            "type": "text",
            "value": "Hello, world!",
        }]
    },
)
print(response.chat_id)
```

#### Response

```json
{
  "chat_id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
  "message": {
    "id": "69a37c7d-af4f-4b5e-af42-e28e98ce873a",
    "created_at": "2025-10-23T13:07:55.019-05:00",
    "delivery_status": "pending",
    "is_read": false,
    "parts": [
      {
        "reactions": [
          {
            "handle": {
              "id": "69a37c7d-af4f-4b5e-af42-e28e98ce873a",
              "handle": "+15551234567",
              "joined_at": "2025-05-21T15:30:00.000-05:00",
              "service": "iMessage",
              "is_me": false,
              "left_at": "2019-12-27T18:11:19.117Z",
              "status": "active"
            },
            "is_me": false,
            "type": "love",
            "custom_emoji": null,
            "sticker": {
              "file_name": "sticker.png",
              "height": 420,
              "mime_type": "image/png",
              "url": "https://cdn.linqapp.com/attachments/a1b2c3d4/sticker.png?signature=...",
              "width": 420
            }
          }
        ],
        "type": "text",
        "value": "Hello!",
        "text_decorations": [
          {
            "range": [
              0,
              5
            ],
            "animation": "shake",
            "style": "bold"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "sent_at": null,
    "delivered_at": null,
    "effect": {
      "name": "confetti",
      "type": "screen"
    },
    "from_handle": {
      "id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
      "handle": "+15551234567",
      "joined_at": "2025-05-21T15:30:00.000-05:00",
      "service": "iMessage",
      "is_me": false,
      "left_at": "2019-12-27T18:11:19.117Z",
      "status": "active"
    },
    "preferred_service": "iMessage",
    "reply_to": {
      "message_id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
      "part_index": 0
    },
    "service": "iMessage"
  }
}
```
