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

A WhatsApp template becomes genuinely useful once it can personalize each message.

Positional variables

Example: Hi {{1}}, your order {{2}} has been confirmed. Simple, but easy to lose track of which number maps to what.

Named variables

Example: Hi {{name}}, your order {{order_id}} is ready. Self-documenting.

Which to use

For 3+ variables, or team-edited templates, named variables prevent mistakes.