Slack API

Set up a Slack bot with API access for posting messages, reading channels, and responding to events.

⏱ 10 minutes messaging productivity api.slack.com

getapi slack

Prerequisites

A Slack workspace where you have permission to install apps
Admin or app-installation permissions in that workspace

Credentials

Variable	Description	Sensitive
`SLACK_BOT_TOKEN`	Bot User OAuth Token (starts with xoxb-)	Secret
`SLACK_SIGNING_SECRET`	Signing secret for verifying requests from Slack	Secret

Setup Steps

1 Info

We'll create a Slack app and get a bot token and signing secret. You'll need admin access (or permission to install apps) in your Slack workspace.
2 Open URL

Opening the Slack app management page. Sign in with your Slack account if prompted.
https://api.slack.com/apps
3 Choice
Do you already have a Slack app you want to use, or do you need to create a new one?
- Create a new app
  
  → Jumps to create_app
- Use an existing app
  
  → Jumps to select_existing
4 Info

Click 'Create New App', then choose 'From scratch'. Give it a name and select the workspace you want to install it in.
5 Confirm

App created? You should now be on the app's settings page.

Checkpoint — confirm before continuing
6 Info

Click on your existing app to open its settings page.
7 Info

In the left sidebar, go to 'OAuth & Permissions'. Scroll down to 'Scopes' and under 'Bot Token Scopes', add the permissions your bot needs. Common scopes: 'chat:write' (post messages), 'channels:read' (list channels), 'channels:history' (read messages).
8 Confirm

Bot scopes configured?

Checkpoint — confirm before continuing
9 Info

Scroll to the top of the 'OAuth & Permissions' page and click 'Install to Workspace' (or 'Reinstall to Workspace' if updating). Authorize the app when prompted.
10 Confirm

App installed to your workspace?

Checkpoint — confirm before continuing
11 Input

Copy the 'Bot User OAuth Token' (starts with xoxb-) and paste it here:

→ SLACK_BOT_TOKEN

Starts with xoxb-
12 Info

Now go to 'Basic Information' in the left sidebar. Under 'App Credentials', find the 'Signing Secret' and click 'Show'.
13 Input

Paste your Signing Secret here:

→ SLACK_SIGNING_SECRET

At least 20 characters
14 Validate

Checking your bot token works...

Bot token verified. Your Slack app is ready.

Couldn't verify the bot token. Make sure the app is installed and the token is correct.

Things to Know

Bot tokens start with 'xoxb-'. User tokens start with 'xoxp-'. Make sure you're using the bot token.
The signing secret is used to verify that incoming requests actually come from Slack. You'll need it if you're handling events, slash commands, or interactive messages.
If you change scopes after installing, you must reinstall the app to the workspace for changes to take effect.
Bots can only access channels they've been invited to. Use '/invite @yourbot' in a channel to add it.
Slack's free tier limits message history to 90 days.