What is ctwa_clid? The Click-to-WhatsApp Click ID
Also known as: Click-to-WhatsApp Click ID, ctwa clid, CTWA click id, whatsapp click id, referral source_id, source_type ad
Short answer
ctwa_clid is the Meta Click ID for Click-to-WhatsApp ads. It arrives in the customer's first message, inside the referral object, together with source_type set to ad and source_id holding the ad ID. With it, a conversion from the chat can be credited to the right ad.
Example
The first message from an ad carries a referral such as `source_type: ad`, `source_id: 120241011806620048`, and `ctwa_clid: AfcNFso6...`. Konektor stores all three on the lead.
Where ctwa_clid comes from
A Click-to-WhatsApp ad opens no website. So there is no fbclid in a URL and no tracking code runs. Meta puts the click marker in the customer's first message, inside the referral object.
| Referral field | Content |
|---|---|
ctwa_clid | The Click-to-WhatsApp ad click ID |
source_type | ad for a chat that comes from an ad |
source_id | The ad ID in Meta |
source_url | A link to the ad |
headline, body, media_type | The ad headline, primary text, and media type |
welcome_message.text | The ad greeting text |
Every field name above is the official name from the WhatsApp Cloud API webhook reference. There is no field called ad_source.
When ctwa_clid is missing
Meta omits ctwa_clid entirely for chats from ads shown in WhatsApp Status. The referral object still arrives, but without a click ID, so the conversion cannot be credited to the ad click this way.
Where Konektor reads it
Konektor reads the referral object on the WhatsApp channels that pass it through, then creates a lead with the source Ads. The ctwa_clid value and its ad ID stay on the lead, and Konektor uses them again every time it sends a conversion event.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the referral object in the first message contain?
- `ctwa_clid` is the click marker. `source_type` is `ad` when the chat comes from an ad. `source_id` is the ad ID in Meta. `source_url`, `headline`, and `body` point to the ad that was clicked.
- How does Konektor send ctwa_clid to Meta?
- When the lead status changes, Konektor sends an event through the Meta Conversions API with `ctwa_clid` in the customer data, `action_source: business_messaging`, and `messaging_channel: whatsapp`, to the dataset of your WhatsApp Business Account.
- What happens when the WABA is not connected?
- Konektor still sends the event, but as `action_source: chat`. Meta does not use `ctwa_clid` on that path, so the Click-to-WhatsApp ad does not get full credit. Connect the WABA and its CTWA dataset in Konektor.
- How is ctwa_clid different from fbclid?
- `fbclid` sits in the URL when a person opens a website from an ad. `ctwa_clid` sits in the WhatsApp message when the ad opens the chat directly, because there is no website visit.
Related terms
Konektor guides
Your ad numbers are only as accurate as the data behind them
Konektor captures the Click ID and sends conversions that close on WhatsApp, over the phone, or in a shop back to the ad platform.