Usage
Simple Message
Write to /tmp/slack_request.json:
{
"text": "Hello, world."
}
Then run:
curl -X POST $SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL -H "Content-type: application/json" -d @/tmp/slack_request.json
With Formatting
Write to /tmp/slack_request.json:
{
"text": "*Bold* and _italic_ text"
}
Then run:
curl -X POST $SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL -H "Content-type: application/json" -d @/tmp/slack_request.json
With Link
Write to /tmp/slack_request.json:
{
"text": "Check <https://example.com|this link>"
}
Then run:
curl -X POST $SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL -H "Content-type: application/json" -d @/tmp/slack_request.json
With Blocks (Rich Layout)
Write to /tmp/slack_request.json:
{
"text": "New review submitted",
"blocks": [
{
"type": "section",
"text": {
"type": "mrkdwn",
"text": "Danny left the following review:"
}
},
{
"type": "section",
"text": {
"type": "mrkdwn",
"text": "<https://example.com|Overlook Hotel>\n:star:\nDoors had too many axe holes."
}
}
]
}
Then run:
curl -X POST $SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL -H "Content-type: application/json" -d @/tmp/slack_request.json
With Fields
Write to /tmp/slack_request.json:
{
"text": "Deployment status",
"blocks": [
{
"type": "section",
"fields": [
{
"type": "mrkdwn",
"text": "*Environment:*\nProduction"
},
{
"type": "mrkdwn",
"text": "*Status:*\nSuccess"
}
]
}
]
}
Then run:
curl -X POST $SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL -H "Content-type: application/json" -d @/tmp/slack_request.json
Message Formatting
| Syntax | Result |
|--------|--------|
| *bold* | bold |
| _italic_ | italic |
| ~strike~ | ~~strike~~ |
| `code` | code |
| \n | newline |
| <URL\|text> | hyperlink |
| :emoji: | emoji |
Shell Escaping
Messages with ! may fail due to shell history expansion. Use heredoc:
curl -s -X POST $SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL -H "Content-type: application/json" -d @- << 'EOF'
{"text":"Deploy completed! :rocket:"}
EOF
Response
Success: ok (HTTP 200)
Errors:
invalid_payload- Malformed JSONno_text- Missingtextfieldno_service- Webhook disabled or invalidchannel_not_found- Channel deletedchannel_is_archived- Channel archivedaction_prohibited- Admin restriction
Limitations
- One webhook = one channel only
- Cannot override username or icon (set in app config)
- Send only (no reading messages)
- Cannot delete messages after posting
- Rate limit: 1 message/second
For full API access, use the slack skill with Bot Token.
API Reference
- Webhooks Guide: https://docs.slack.dev/messaging/sending-messages-using-incoming-webhooks
- Block Kit Builder: https://app.slack.com/block-kit-builder
- Message Formatting: https://docs.slack.dev/messaging/formatting-message-text