Sending Text Messages Using Node.js and Twilio

Photo by Maxim Ilyahov on Unsplash

Text messaging is a powerful tool for reaching your users or customers instantly. Whether you want to send reminders, notifications, or promotional messages, Node.js combined with the Twilio API makes it easy to implement SMS functionality into your applications. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the steps to send text messages programmatically using Node.js and Twilio.

Prerequisites

Before we get started, make sure you have the following:

1. Node.js and npm: Ensure you have Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager) installed on your system. You can download them from https://nodejs.org/.
2. Twilio Account: You’ll need a Twilio account to send SMS messages. Sign up for a free account at https://www.twilio.com/try-twilio if you don’t already have one.
3. Twilio Account SID and Auth Token: After signing up, you’ll find your Account SID and Auth Token on the Twilio Console Dashboard.
4. Phone Numbers: You’ll need a Twilio phone number to send messages. You can obtain one from the Twilio Console.

Step 1: Setup Your NodeJS Project

1. Create a new directory for your Node.js project and navigate to it in your terminal.

2. Initialize a new Node.js project by running the following command:

npm init -y

3. Install the twilio package, which allows you to interact with the Twilio API:

npm install twilio

4. Create a JavaScript file (e.g., send-sms.js) to write your code.

Step 2: Write the Code

Now, let’s write the code to send an SMS message using the Twilio API. Replace the placeholders with your Twilio Account SID, Auth Token, and Twilio phone number.

// Import the Twilio module
const twilio = require('twilio');

// Replace these variables with your own values from your Twilio account
const accountSid = 'YOUR_ACCOUNT_SID';
const authToken = 'YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN';
const twilioPhoneNumber = 'YOUR_TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER';
const recipientPhoneNumber = 'RECIPIENT_PHONE_NUMBER'; // Replace with the recipient's phone number

// Create a Twilio client
const client = new twilio(accountSid, authToken);

// Send an SMS message
client.messages
  .create({
    body: 'Hello from Node.js and Twilio!', // Message text
    from: twilioPhoneNumber, // Your Twilio phone number
    to: recipientPhoneNumber, // Recipient's phone number
  })
  .then((message) => {
    console.log('Message sent successfully:', message.sid);
  })
  .catch((error) => {
    console.error('Error sending message:', error);
  });

Step 3: Run Your Node.js Application

Now that you’ve written the code, you can run your Node.js application to send a text message. In your terminal, execute the following command:

node send-sms.js

If everything is set up correctly, you should see a success message indicating that the SMS was sent successfully.

Conclusion

You’ve successfully sent a text message using Node.js and the Twilio API. This powerful combination allows you to integrate SMS functionality into your applications, whether it’s for sending notifications, alerts, or marketing messages. With the ability to reach your audience directly through their phones, you can enhance user engagement and improve communication with your users or customers.

Note: It’s a paid service but you can use as a trail for learning purpose. In this case, you can send a message only on verified number only!

Happy Learning! Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn!