# Answers over API
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Answers APIs enable you to use your Answers chatbot with other platforms.

## Available APIs [#available-apis]

The following APIs are available.

- [Open channel](https://www.infobip.com/docs/api/channels/open-channel)
- [Answers API](https://www.infobip.com/docs/api/customer-engagement/answers)

## Open channel API

EARLY ACCESS

The Open channel API enables you to exchange messages between your messaging platform and your Answers chatbot. You can build your own messaging application and connect it to the chatbot by using the Open channel API.

For more information, refer to the [API](https://www.infobip.com/docs/api/channels/open-channel) documentation.

### Advantages [#open-channel-api-advantages]

- Instead of being restricted to a specific messaging platform, the API enables you to connect your chatbot to any platform.
- You do not need to configure the message processing in your platform. You can configure the processing in your chatbot.

### Prerequisites [#open-channel-api-prerequisites] 

- Enable **Open channel** in your Infobip account and configure the Open channel sender.
- Create an Answers chatbot that uses the Open channel sender.
- Set up the webhook to receive messages from the chatbot.

### How it works [#open-channel-api-process-flow]

The following image is an overview of how the Infobip Open channel API works.

### Configure the chatbot [#open-channel-configure-chatbot]

When [creating a new chatbot](create-chatbot/create-chatbot-from-scratch), select the **[Open channel](chatbot-elements/channels#open-channel)**.

## Answers API [#answers-api]

EARLY ACCESS

### Simulate the chatbot [#answers-api-simulate]

Use the Answers API to simulate a conversation between the end user and the chatbot. The API request  contains the message from the end user, and the API response contains the simulated response from the chatbot. The response is sent to the webhook that you configure.

You can create scripts to automate test scenarios. You can include attributes within the scripts.

#### Prerequisites

Configure a webhook to receive the responses from the chatbot.

#### Available methods

- [Start test](https://www.infobip.com/docs/api/customer-engagement/answers/start-test)
- Stop test
- Send message

#### Process

1. Configure the Start test method.    
2. Copy the **testId** that is generated.    
3. Configure the Send message method. Use the **testId** that you copied.

	The response from the chatbot is sent to your webhook.
    
4. After you finish the simulation, use the Stop test method to stop the simulation.