Keeping Telegram Inline Keyboard Callbacks Within Limits in PHP

Telegram bots that use inline keyboards for approval or routing workflows often break in production. Telegram enforces a 64-byte limit on callback_data, and oversized payloads can cause keyboards to fail silently or trigger API errors. Another common problem is failing to call answerCallbackQuery promptly, which leaves the client showing a loading spinner until it times out. The article recommends short, compact payload formats instead of embedding full context in buttons. It also proposes a dedicated cURL-based Telegram client that checks HTTP codes and error responses, rather than relying on file_get_contents.