=== Telegram Contact Form ===
Contributors: telegramcontactform
Tags: telegram, contact form, telegram bot, form, contact
Requires at least: 5.8
Tested up to: 6.9
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 1.0.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

A minimalist contact form that sends submissions directly to your Telegram bot. Simple setup, instant notifications.

== Description ==

**Telegram Contact Form** is a lightweight WordPress plugin that bridges the gap between your website visitors and your Telegram account. Instead of checking emails, receive contact form submissions instantly on Telegram!

### ✨ Key Features

* **Instant Telegram Notifications** - Get contact form submissions sent directly to your Telegram bot
* **Easy Setup** - Simple 3-step configuration process
* **Multiple Form Styles** - Choose from Minimal, Modern, or Dark themes
* **AJAX Form Submission** - Smooth user experience without page reloads
* **Fully Responsive** - Works perfectly on all devices
* **Secure & Lightweight** - Built following WordPress coding standards
* **Translation Ready** - Supports internationalization

### 🚀 How It Works

1. Create a Telegram bot using @BotFather
2. Get your bot token and chat ID
3. Configure the plugin settings
4. Add `[telegram_contact_form]` shortcode to any page
5. Start receiving messages on Telegram!

### 💡 Use Cases

* Client inquiries for agencies and freelancers
* Support requests for SaaS products
* Lead generation for businesses
* Event registrations
* Booking requests
* General contact forms

### 🎨 Form Styles

**Minimal** - Clean and simple design with subtle borders
**Modern** - Gradient header with elevated card design
**Dark** - Dark mode theme with vibrant accents

Use the shortcode with a style parameter:
`[telegram_contact_form style="modern"]`

### 🔒 Privacy & Security

* Nonce verification for all form submissions
* Input sanitization and validation
* Secure API communication with Telegram
* No data stored in your database
* GDPR compliant

== Installation ==

### Automatic Installation

1. Log in to your WordPress admin panel
2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New
3. Search for "Telegram Contact Form"
4. Click "Install Now" and then "Activate"

### Manual Installation

1. Download the plugin zip file
2. Log in to your WordPress admin panel
3. Navigate to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin
4. Choose the downloaded zip file and click "Install Now"
5. Activate the plugin

### Configuration

1. Go to **Telegram Form** in your WordPress admin menu
2. Create a Telegram bot:
   - Open Telegram and message @BotFather
   - Use the `/newbot` command
   - Follow the instructions to create your bot
   - Copy the bot token provided
3. Get your Chat ID:
   - Message @userinfobot on Telegram
   - It will reply with your chat ID
   - Or use your group/channel chat ID
4. Enter your **Bot Token** and **Chat ID** in the plugin settings
5. Choose your preferred form style
6. Click "Save Settings"
7. Add the shortcode `[telegram_contact_form]` to any page or post

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= How do I create a Telegram bot? =

1. Open Telegram and search for @BotFather
2. Start a chat and send the `/newbot` command
3. Follow the instructions to choose a name and username
4. BotFather will provide you with a bot token
5. Copy this token and paste it in the plugin settings

= How do I find my Chat ID? =

The easiest way is to:
1. Message @userinfobot on Telegram
2. It will reply with your user ID (this is your chat ID)
3. Copy this ID and paste it in the plugin settings

For group chats:
1. Add @RawDataBot to your group
2. It will send you the group chat ID
3. Use this ID in the plugin settings

= Can I use this for group notifications? =

Yes! You can send form submissions to:
- Your personal Telegram account (using your user ID)
- A Telegram group (using the group chat ID)
- A Telegram channel (using the channel chat ID)

= What data is stored in my database? =

None! This plugin doesn't store any form submissions in your WordPress database. All data is sent directly to Telegram, keeping your database clean.

= Can I customize the form fields? =

The current version includes Name, Email, and Message fields. Custom field support will be added in future updates.

= Is this plugin GDPR compliant? =

Yes, since no data is stored in your database and messages are sent directly to Telegram, this plugin is GDPR compliant. However, you should still include appropriate privacy notices on your website.

= Does it work with caching plugins? =

Yes! The plugin uses AJAX for form submission, so it works perfectly with caching plugins.

= Can I translate the plugin? =

Yes, the plugin is translation-ready. You can use tools like Loco Translate or provide your own translation files.

= The form submission fails. What should I check? =

1. Verify your bot token is correct
2. Verify your chat ID is correct
3. Make sure you've started a chat with your bot (send `/start` to your bot)
4. Check if your server can connect to api.telegram.org
5. Check the browser console for any JavaScript errors

== Screenshots ==

1. Admin settings page with minimalist design
2. Contact form with "Minimal" style
3. Contact form with "Modern" style
4. Contact form with "Dark" style
5. Mobile responsive design
6. Telegram message notification example

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.0 - 2026-01-20 =
* Initial release
* Three form style options (Minimal, Modern, Dark)
* AJAX form submission
* Admin settings page
* Shortcode support
* Translation ready
* WordPress 6.7 compatibility

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.0.0 =
Initial release of Telegram Contact Form plugin.

== Support ==

For support, feature requests, or bug reports, please visit:
* Plugin Support Forum: [WordPress.org Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/telegram-contact-form/)
* Tutorial: [Step-by-Step Guide](https://apibuddy.net/how-to-create-telegram-api-contact-form-step-by-step/)

== Credits ==

* Developed by [Ashvani Kumar](https://github.com/ashvaniskumar)
* Uses Telegram Bot API for message delivery
* Built following WordPress coding standards
* Open source and community-driven

== Privacy Policy ==

This plugin sends form submission data directly to Telegram via the Telegram Bot API. No form data is stored in your WordPress database. The data sent includes:
* Name (as entered in the form)
* Email address (as entered in the form)
* Message (as entered in the form)

This data is transmitted securely to Telegram's servers. Please review Telegram's privacy policy for information about how they handle data.