How to send images with Python Telegram Bot?

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1

Hey everyone! I’m trying to figure out how to send images using a Python Telegram Bot. I want to be able to send images from either a URL or a local file path when a user makes a request. I’ve seen some sample code that does this but I’m having trouble understanding it since I’m new to Python.

Here’s a simplified version of what I’m trying to do:

def send_image(chat_id):
    # Create a sample image
    img = create_sample_image()
    
    # Convert image to bytes
    img_bytes = image_to_bytes(img)
    
    # Send the image
    bot.send_photo(chat_id=chat_id, photo=img_bytes)

def create_sample_image():
    # Create a colorful 256x256 image
    img = Image.new('RGB', (256, 256))
    pixels = [random.randint(0, 255) for _ in range(256*256*3)]
    img.putdata(zip(*[iter(pixels)]*3))
    return img

def image_to_bytes(img):
    buffer = BytesIO()
    img.save(buffer, 'PNG')
    return buffer.getvalue()

Can someone explain how this works or suggest a better way to send images? Thanks!

2

I’ve been working with Telegram bots for a while now, and sending images is actually quite simple once you get the hang of it. Your approach is a bit overcomplicated for most scenarios. Here’s a more straightforward method I’ve found works well:

For local files:
bot.send_photo(chat_id=chat_id, photo=open(‘image.jpg’, ‘rb’))

For URLs:
bot.send_photo(chat_id=chat_id, photo=‘https://example.com/image.jpg’)

This method is much more efficient and doesn’t require any image manipulation. It’s also more flexible, allowing you to easily switch between local and online images.

One tip: Always make sure to handle potential errors, like file not found or network issues. It’ll make your bot much more robust. Also, if you’re sending a lot of images, consider using a media group to send multiple photos in one message. It’s a great way to improve user experience.

3

I’ve worked extensively with Python Telegram bots, and I can offer some insights on sending images. While the provided code is functional, it’s unnecessarily complex for most use cases. A more efficient approach is to use the send_photo method directly with either a file path or URL.

For local files:

bot.send_photo(chat_id=chat_id, photo=open('path/to/image.jpg', 'rb'))

For URLs:

bot.send_photo(chat_id=chat_id, photo='https://example.com/image.jpg')

This method is more straightforward and doesn’t require creating or manipulating image data in memory. It’s also more versatile, allowing you to easily switch between local and remote images. Remember to handle potential exceptions, such as file not found or network errors, to ensure a robust implementation.

4

hey sophiac, i’ve used telegram bots before and sending images is pretty straightforward. your code looks fine, but here’s a simpler approach:

from telegram.ext import Updater, CommandHandler
import requests

def send_image(update, context):
    url = 'https://example.com/image.jpg'
    context.bot.send_photo(chat_id=update.effective_chat.id, photo=url)

updater = Updater('YOUR_BOT_TOKEN', use_context=True)
updater.dispatcher.add_handler(CommandHandler('image', send_image))
updater.start_polling()

this sends an image from a url when the user types /image. hope it helps!