WhatsApp Template Variables Explained: Positional {{1}} vs Named {{name}}

A WhatsApp template becomes genuinely useful once it can personalize each message — that's what template variables are for, and there are two supported styles.

Positional variables: {{1}}, {{2}}

Example: "Hi {{1}}, your order {{2}} has been confirmed!" Each number is filled in order when the message is sent. Simple, but easy to lose track of which number maps to what if a template has several variables.

Named variables: {{name}}, {{order_id}}

Example: "Hi {{name}}, your order {{order_id}} is ready." Self-documenting — anyone editing the template later can tell exactly what each variable represents without cross-referencing anything else.

Which to use

For a simple, one-or-two-variable template, positional is fine. For anything with three or more variables, or any template other people on your team will edit later, named variables prevent mistakes that positional numbering makes easy to introduce.

HeyGrowfy's template editor supports both styles with live preview, so you can see exactly how the filled-in message will look before submitting. Learn more at heygrowfy.com (link this text to https://www.heygrowfy.com).