SMS - Tutorial: Send an SMS in Node.js using the Telesign SDK

This tutorial teaches you how to use the Telesign Node.js SDK to send an SMS. The complete sample code for this tutorial is available on GitHub here.

Before you begin

• Authentication credentials: Your Customer ID and API Key. If you need help finding these items, go to the support article How do I find my Customer ID and API Key.
• Testing device: A mobile phone on which you can receive SMS.
• Telesign Self-service Node.js SDK: Install the Self-service Node.js SDK. Source code and installation instructions are on GitHub.

Set up your project

1. Create a new directory for your project and then enter it. If you plan to create multiple Node.js projects that use Telesign, we recommend that you group them within a telesign_integrations directory.

   Terminal

   cd telesign_integrations
   mkdir sms
   cd sms
   

2. Create a new file called send_sms.js and open it in your editor.

   Terminal

   touch send_sms.js
   

Create code to send an SMS

1. Import the Telesign SDK as a dependency.

   JavaScript

   var TeleSignSDK = require('telesignsdk');
   

2. Define variables to store your authentication credentials. For testing purposes, you can just overwrite the default values below or use environment variables.

   JavaScript

   const customerId = process.env.CUSTOMER_ID || "FFFFFFFF-EEEE-DDDD-1234-AB1234567890";
   const apiKey = process.env.API_KEY || "ABC12345yusumoN6BYsBVkh+yRJ5czgsnCehZaOYldPJdmFh6NeX8kunZ2zU1YWaUw/0wV6xfw==";
   

3. Define a variable to hold the recipient's phone number. For this tutorial, hardcode your testing device's phone number or pull it from an environment variable.

   JavaScript

   const phoneNumber = process.env.PHONE_NUMBER || "11234567890";
   

4. Define variables for the message text and the Telesign abbreviation describing the message type. For purposes of this tutorial, use the "ARN" abbreviation (alerts, reminders, and notifications).

   JavaScript

   const message = "Your package has shipped! Follow your delivery at https://vero-finto.com/orders/3456";
   const messageType = "ARN";
   

5. Instantiate a Telesign messaging client object with your authentication credentials.

   JavaScript

   const client = new TeleSignSDK( customerId, apiKey);
   

6. Define a function to display the response body in the console for debugging purposes. In your production code, you would likely remove this.

   JavaScript

   function smsCallback(error, responseBody) {
       if (error === null) {
           console.log("\nResponse body:\n" + JSON.stringify(responseBody));
       } else {
           console.error("Unable to send SMS. Error:\n\n" + error);
       }
   }
   

7. Make the request and capture the response. Include your function to display the response as a callback.

   JavaScript

   client.sms.message(smsCallback, phoneNumber, message, messageType);
   

Sample code

The complete sample code for this tutorial can be found on GitHub.