A complete rundown of whatsapp's tech stack and why each tool is used Overview WhatsApp is one of the largest messaging platforms in the world. Its tech stack is designed to support real-time messaging, high concurrency, and minimal downtime.
#1 Frontend (Client Side) :
Android: Java / Kotlin &iOS: Swift / Objective-C
#2 Backend :Erlang
#3 Authentication : phone number &SMS / Voice OTP verification
#4 API : XMPP
#5 Database: Mnesia (Erlang database)& MySQL
#6 🔄 Messaging System :
Store-and-forward messaging model
WHY EACH TOOL IS USED? Android: Java / Kotlin &iOS: Swift / Objective-C Native languages ensure fast, smooth, and reliable app performance.
Erlang: Handles millions of concurrent users with high fault tolerance. Optimized for real-time messaging and uptime.
Phone + SMS/Voice OTP: Simple onboarding using phone numbers. Secure verification via OTP, works globally.
XMPP: Lightweight protocol for instant messaging and presence. Custom modifications improve efficiency at scale.
Mnesia & MySQL Mnesia: Fast, in-memory storage for real-time messaging. MySQL: Persistent storage for user data and message history.
Messaging System: Store-and-Forward Stores messages if recipient is offline, delivers when online. Ensures no message loss and supports asynchronous chat.