WhatsApp integrates search function Giphy for quick insertion of animated gifs

WhatsApp is integrating a Giphy search engine for quickly inserting animated gifs into conversations. This is evident from the latest beta version of the Android version of the app. Until now, inserting animated gifs went through the gallery.

The search function can be found by pressing the emojis button, after which WhatsApp has a tab for emojis and a tab for gifs in the bottom bar. A touch of the gifs tab shows some popular gifs and with a touch of the magnifying glass users can search for gifs. It is then still possible to add a caption to the animated gif before sending.

The function, which Android Police discovered, should make it easier to use the moving pictures in the chat app. Some competing chat apps have long had a built-in search function for Giphy, one of the best-known sites for finding animated gifs.

It is unknown when the feature from the beta will be available in the version that appears in the Play Store. It is also not yet clear whether and when other platforms such as iOS and Windows 10 Mobile will receive the function. According to MSPoweruser, it is a hidden feature in the Store version of the beta of WhatsApp.