MadelineProto is an async PHP client library for the Telegram MTProto protocol that enables direct interaction with Telegram without relying on the bot API.
The library solves the problem of accessing Telegram's full functionality from PHP by implementing the MTProto protocol directly. It supports authentication via phone number for user accounts or bot tokens, both using the MTProto API rather than Telegram's HTTP bot API. The tool is fully asynchronous, built on AMPHP, allowing concurrent operations and non-blocking I/O patterns typical of modern async PHP applications.
Developers should choose this library when they need deeper Telegram integration than the official bot API provides, such as accessing secret chats, making VoIP calls, working with Stories, or building userbot functionality. It suits projects requiring direct protocol access rather than the limited feature set of the bot API. The library is approved by Telegram and includes examples ranging from simple bots to complex applications like VoIP webradios and story downloaders. For those evaluating alternatives, the README emphasizes that this approach uses MTProto directly rather than wrapping the bot API, giving access to capabilities unavailable through official HTTP endpoints.
Development activity shows consistent maintenance with active community engagement through official support channels. The project maintains comprehensive documentation and provides multiple standalone libraries extracted from its core components, indicating a mature codebase with well-separated concerns. Examples and real-world projects built with the library are actively curated and documented, suggesting ongoing investment in developer experience.
