How to Send MMS Messages with Twilio in RedwoodJS | Node.js Tutorial

Learn how to send MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) messages with Twilio in RedwoodJS using Node.js. This complete tutorial shows you how to integrate Twilio's Programmable Messaging API into a RedwoodJS application, build GraphQL mutations for sending MMS, and implement proper error handling for multimedia messaging.

By the end of this guide, you will have a RedwoodJS application with a functional GraphQL mutation that triggers a backend service to send an MMS message. This solves the common need to programmatically send rich media messages for notifications, alerts, or user engagement directly from your application.

What You'll Learn: Sending MMS with Twilio in RedwoodJS

• Set up a new RedwoodJS project for MMS messaging.
• Configure Twilio credentials securely with environment variables.
• Create a RedwoodJS service to interact with the Twilio API.
• Define a GraphQL mutation to expose the MMS sending functionality.
• Implement basic error handling and logging for Twilio API calls.
• Test and verify MMS delivery with real phone numbers.

Technologies Used

• RedwoodJS: A full-stack JavaScript/TypeScript framework for the web. It provides structure and conventions for building both the frontend (React) and backend (Node.js API with GraphQL).
• Node.js: The runtime environment for the RedwoodJS API side.
• Twilio: A cloud communications platform as a service (CPaaS). You'll use its Programmable Messaging API for sending MMS.
• GraphQL: A query language for APIs used by RedwoodJS on the backend.
• Yarn: Package manager for JavaScript.
• Prisma: (Implicit in RedwoodJS) An ORM (Object-Relational Mapping), though not directly used for database interaction in this specific MMS function.

System Architecture

The flow of sending an MMS message will be:

1. Client (Web/Mobile/Script): Initiates a request (e.g., through a form submission or an automated trigger).
2. RedwoodJS GraphQL API: Receives the request via a defined sendMms mutation.
3. RedwoodJS Service (mms.ts): The mutation resolver calls the sendMms function within this service.
4. Twilio Node.js Helper Library: The service uses this library, configured with your credentials, to make an API call to Twilio.
5. Twilio Platform: Receives the API request, fetches the media from the provided URL, validates the request, and sends the MMS message to the recipient's phone number via carrier networks.
6. Recipient: Receives the MMS message on their mobile device.

sequenceDiagram
    participant Client
    participant Redwood GraphQL API
    participant Redwood MMS Service
    participant Twilio API
    participant Recipient Device

    Client->>Redwood GraphQL API: Send MMS Mutation (to, body, mediaUrl)
    Redwood GraphQL API->>Redwood MMS Service: call sendMms(input)
    Redwood MMS Service->>Twilio API: client.messages.create(...)
    Twilio API-->>Redwood MMS Service: Message SID / Status
    Redwood MMS Service-->>Redwood GraphQL API: Return result (e.g., SID)
    Redwood GraphQL API-->>Client: Mutation response
    Twilio API->>Recipient Device: Send MMS Message

Prerequisites

• Node.js: Version 20.x or higher recommended. RedwoodJS 8.8 requires Node.js >=20.x for optimal compatibility. Check your version with node -v. [Source: RedwoodJS Documentation]
• Yarn: Version 1.22.21 or higher (Yarn Classic). Check your version with yarn -v. Install via npm install -g yarn.
• Twilio Account: A free or paid Twilio account.
  • Your Account SID and Auth Token (found on the Twilio Console dashboard).
  • A Twilio phone number capable of sending MMS messages (available in the US and Canada). Purchase one from the "Phone Numbers" section of the Twilio Console. Note trial account limitations. Ensure the number is in E.164 format – the international phone number format that includes a plus sign (+) followed by the country code and phone number (e.g., +15551234567).
• Publicly Accessible Image URL: An image URL that Twilio can access to include in the MMS. For testing, you can use a placeholder like https://via.placeholder.com/150.png. If you don't have one readily available, you can use public links from cloud storage (like AWS S3 or Google Cloud Storage with public access enabled) or dedicated image hosting services. The combined size of the message body text and all media attachments must be less than 5 MB. Supported image formats include JPEG, JPG, PNG, and GIF. [Source: Twilio Accepted MIME Types Documentation]

1. Setting Up the RedwoodJS Project

Start by creating a new RedwoodJS application.

1. Create Redwood App: Open your terminal and navigate to the directory where you want to create your project. Run the following command:

   bashCopy

   yarn create redwood-app redwood-twilio-mms

   Choose TypeScript when prompted, as it provides better type safety.

2. Navigate to Project Directory:

   bashCopy

   cd redwood-twilio-mms

3. Install Twilio Helper Library: Add the official Twilio Node.js helper library to the API side dependencies.

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   yarn workspace api add twilio

4. Configure Environment Variables: RedwoodJS uses .env files for environment variables. Create a .env file in the project root (redwood-twilio-mms/.env). Never commit this file to version control.

   Add your Twilio credentials and phone number:

   plaintextCopy

   # .env
   TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID=ACxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx # Replace with your Account SID
   TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN=your_auth_token                 # Replace with your Auth Token
   TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER=+15551234567                   # Replace with your Twilio MMS-capable number (E.164 format)

   • TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID: Your unique account identifier from the Twilio Console.
   • TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN: Your secret token for authenticating API requests. Keep this secure.
   • TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER: The E.164 formatted Twilio phone number you purchased that will send the MMS.

   These variables are automatically available in the RedwoodJS API environment via process.env.

5. Project Structure Overview: Familiarize yourself with the key directories:

   • api/: Contains the backend code (GraphQL API, services, database schema, etc.).
   • web/: Contains the frontend React application code.
   • .env: Stores your secret environment variables (ignored by Git).
   • redwood.toml: Project configuration file.

2. Implementing Core Functionality (Redwood Service)

The core logic for sending the MMS will reside in a RedwoodJS service function on the API side. Services encapsulate business logic.

1. Generate MMS Service: Use the RedwoodJS CLI generator to create a service file for MMS operations.

   bashCopy

   yarn rw g service mms

   This creates two files:

   • api/src/services/mms/mms.ts: Where you'll write the sending logic.
   • api/src/services/mms/mms.test.ts: For writing unit tests.

2. Implement the sendMms Service Function: Open api/src/services/mms/mms.ts and replace its contents with the following code:

   typescriptCopy

   // api/src/services/mms/mms.ts
   import { Twilio } from 'twilio' // Use named import for Twilio class
   import type {
     MutationSendMmsArgs,
     SendMmsResponse,
   } from 'types/graphql' // You will define these types later
   
   import { logger } from 'src/lib/logger' // Redwood's built-in logger
   
   // Input validation function (basic example)
   // For production, consider using a dedicated library like Zod for more robust schema validation.
   // (Install with: yarn workspace api add zod)
   const validateInput = (input: MutationSendMmsArgs['input']) => {
     if (!input.to || !input.body || !input.mediaUrl) {
       throw new Error('Missing required input: to, body, or mediaUrl')
     }
     // Basic E.164 format check. Strict validation is crucial.
     // This regex is a start but may not cover all global edge cases.
     if (!/^\+[1-9]\d{1,14}$/.test(input.to)) {
       throw new Error('Invalid "to" phone number format. Use E.164 (e.g., +15551234567).')
     }
     // Basic URL check (can be more robust)
     try {
       new URL(input.mediaUrl)
     } catch (_) {
       throw new Error('Invalid "mediaUrl" format.')
     }
   }
   
   export const sendMms = async ({
     input,
   }: MutationSendMmsArgs): Promise<SendMmsResponse> => {
     logger.info({ input }, 'Attempting to send MMS...')
   
     // 1. Validate Input
     try {
       validateInput(input)
     } catch (error) {
       logger.error({ error }, 'Invalid input for sendMms')
       return { success: false, messageSid: null, error: error.message }
     }
   
     const { to, body, mediaUrl } = input
   
     // 2. Load Credentials (ensure they are set in .env)
     const accountSid = process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID
     const authToken = process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN
     const fromNumber = process.env.TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER
   
     if (!accountSid || !authToken || !fromNumber) {
       logger.error('Twilio credentials or phone number missing in .env')
       // Throw a server error to halt execution and signal a configuration problem
       throw new Error(
         'Twilio configuration is incomplete. Check server environment variables.'
       )
       // The throw statement prevents the following lines from being reached.
     }
   
     // 3. Initialize Twilio Client
     // Use new Twilio() per recent twilio-node versions
     const client = new Twilio(accountSid, authToken)
   
     // 4. Send the MMS Message
     try {
       logger.debug(
         { to, from: fromNumber, bodyLength: body.length, mediaUrl },
         'Calling Twilio API messages.create'
       )
   
       const message = await client.messages.create({
         to: to, // Recipient's phone number (E.164)
         from: fromNumber, // Your Twilio phone number (E.164)
         body: body, // Text content of the message
         mediaUrl: [mediaUrl], // Array of public media URLs
       })
   
       logger.info({ messageSid: message.sid, status: message.status }, 'MMS sent successfully via Twilio')
   
       // 5. Return Success Response
       return {
         success: true,
         messageSid: message.sid, // Unique ID for the message
         error: null,
       }
     } catch (error) {
       logger.error({ error }, 'Error sending MMS via Twilio')
   
       // Try to provide a more specific error if possible
       const errorMessage =
         error.message || 'An unknown error occurred while sending the MMS.'
   
       // 6. Return Error Response
       return {
         success: false,
         messageSid: null,
         error: errorMessage,
       }
     }
   }
   
   // Note: You'll define MutationSendMmsArgs and SendMmsResponse in the GraphQL SDL file next.

   Explanation:

   • Imports: Import the Twilio class, types you'll define soon (MutationSendMmsArgs, SendMmsResponse), and Redwood's logger.
   • validateInput: A basic helper function to check required fields and perform rudimentary format checks. Production applications would benefit significantly from libraries like zod for more robust validation, especially for ensuring strict E.164 format and valid URLs.
   • sendMms Function:
     • Takes an input object (defined by MutationSendMmsArgs).
     • Logs the attempt using logger.info.
     • Calls validateInput. If validation fails, it returns an error response.
     • Retrieves Twilio credentials and the sending number from process.env. It throws a server error if they are missing (crucial for debugging setup issues).
     • Initializes the Twilio client using the SID and Token.
     • Uses a try...catch block to handle potential errors during the API call.
     • Calls client.messages.create with the required parameters:
       • to: The recipient's phone number (from input, validated to be E.164).
       • from: Your Twilio number (from .env, should be E.164).
       • body: The text message (from input).
       • mediaUrl: An array containing the public URL of the image (from input). Twilio requires this to be an array even for a single image.
     • Success: If the API call succeeds, logs the success with the returned message.sid and message.status, then returns a success response object including the messageSid.
     • Failure: If the API call fails, logs the error using logger.error and returns a failure response object containing the error message.

3. Building the API Layer (GraphQL Mutation)

We need to expose the sendMms service function via Redwood's GraphQL API so clients can call it.

1. Generate GraphQL SDL: Use the Redwood CLI to generate the Schema Definition Language (SDL) file for MMS. Although we aren't directly interacting with a database model named Mms, this command sets up the necessary file structure for defining our types and mutations related to MMS.

   bashCopy

   yarn rw g sdl mms --no-crud

   • --no-crud: Prevents the generator from creating standard CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations, as we only need a custom mutation.

   This creates api/src/graphql/mms.sdl.ts.

2. Define GraphQL Types and Mutation: Open api/src/graphql/mms.sdl.ts and replace its contents with the following definitions:

   typescriptCopy

   // api/src/graphql/mms.sdl.ts
   export const schema = gql`
     """
     Input required to send an MMS message.
     """
     input SendMmsInput {
       "Recipient's phone number in E.164 format (e.g., +15551234567)."
       to: String!
       "Text body of the message."
       body: String!
       "Publicly accessible URL of the media to send."
       mediaUrl: String!
     }
   
     """
     Response after attempting to send an MMS message.
     """
     type SendMmsResponse {
       "Indicates whether the API call was successfully initiated."
       success: Boolean!
       "The unique identifier for the message (if successful)."
       messageSid: String
       "Error message (if the call failed)."
       error: String
     }
   
     type Mutation {
       """
       Sends an MMS message via Twilio.
       """
       sendMms(input: SendMmsInput!): SendMmsResponse! @skipAuth # Or use @requireAuth
     }
   `

   Explanation:

   • SendMmsInput: Defines the structure of the data needed for the mutation. to, body, and mediaUrl are marked as non-nullable (!).
   • SendMmsResponse: Defines the shape of the data returned by the mutation. It includes a success flag, the optional messageSid (only present on success), and an optional error message.
   • Mutation: Defines the available mutations.
     • sendMms: Our mutation takes a non-nullable SendMmsInput and returns a non-nullable SendMmsResponse.
     • @skipAuth: For simplicity in this example, we disable authentication. In a real-world application, you should strongly consider using @requireAuth to protect this endpoint. This ensures only authenticated users can trigger the mutation. You would then typically add authorization logic within the sendMms service function to verify if the specific authenticated user has the necessary permissions to send messages (e.g., based on their role or ownership of resources). Consult the RedwoodJS documentation for setting up authentication (yarn rw setup auth <provider>).

   Redwood automatically maps the sendMms mutation defined here to the sendMms function exported from api/src/services/mms/mms.ts. The types defined in the SDL (SendMmsInput, SendMmsResponse) are automatically generated and available for use in your service file (which is why the import types/graphql worked earlier).

3. Testing the GraphQL Endpoint: You can now test the mutation using a tool like curl or Postman, or Redwood's built-in GraphQL playground.

   • Start the Development Server:

     bashCopy

     yarn rw dev

   • Access Playground: Open your browser to http://localhost:8911/graphql.

   • Run Mutation: Execute the following mutation (replace placeholders):

     graphqlCopy

     mutation SendTestMms {
       sendMms(input: {
         to: "+15559876543" # Replace with YOUR verified phone number for testing
         body: "Hello from RedwoodJS + Twilio! Test message." # Generic date/time instead of future date
         mediaUrl: "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dianephan/flask_upload_photos/main/UPLOADS/DRAW_THE_OWL_MEME.png" # Example public URL
       }) {
         success
         messageSid
         error
       }
     }

   • Expected Response (Success):

     jsonCopy

     {
       "data": {
         "sendMms": {
           "success": true,
           "messageSid": "SMxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx",
           "error": null
         }
       }
     }

     You should also receive the MMS on the phone number specified in the to field shortly after.

   • Expected Response (Failure - e.g., invalid number):

     jsonCopy

     {
       "data": {
         "sendMms": {
           "success": false,
           "messageSid": null,
           "error": "The 'To' number +15550000000 is not a valid phone number." // Example error
         }
       }
     }

   • Using curl:

     bashCopy

     curl 'http://localhost:8911/graphql' \
       -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
       --data-raw '{"query":"mutation SendTestMms { sendMms(input: { to: \"+15559876543\", body: \"Hello via curl!\", mediaUrl: \"https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dianephan/flask_upload_photos/main/UPLOADS/DRAW_THE_OWL_MEME.png\" }) { success messageSid error } }"}'

     (Remember to replace the to number).

4. Integrating with Twilio (Configuration Deep Dive)

This section reiterates and expands on the Twilio-specific setup.

1. Obtaining Credentials:

   • Log in to your Twilio Console.
   • Account SID: Found on the main dashboard, usually starting with AC.... Copy this value.
   • Auth Token: Also on the dashboard. Click "Show" to reveal it. Copy this value. Treat this like a password.
   • Purpose: The Account SID identifies your account, and the Auth Token authenticates your API requests.

2. Purchasing an MMS-Capable Number:

   • Navigate to Develop -> Phone Numbers -> Manage -> Buy a number.
   • Select your country (MMS is primarily US/Canada).
   • In "Capabilities", ensure "MMS" is checked. You might also check "SMS".
   • Click "Search".
   • Choose a number from the list and click "Buy". Confirm the purchase.
   • Purpose: This is the number messages will be sent from. It must be explicitly enabled for MMS. Using a non-MMS number will result in errors. Ensure you copy it in E.164 format.

3. Storing Credentials Securely:

   • As done in Step 1.4, place these values in your root .env file:
     plaintextCopy

     # .env
     TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID=ACxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN=your_auth_token
     TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER=+15551234567 # The number you just bought (E.164 format)

   • Security: The .env file is listed in Redwood's default .gitignore, preventing accidental commits of secrets. When deploying, you will need to set these as environment variables on your hosting provider.

4. Media URL Accessibility:

   • The mediaUrl provided to the Twilio API must be publicly accessible over the internet without authentication.
   • Twilio's servers fetch the media from this URL to attach it to the MMS. If the URL is private, protected, or invalid, the message sending will fail (often with a specific error code related to media retrieval).
   • Common Pitfalls: Using localhost URLs, URLs behind firewalls, or URLs requiring login sessions will not work.

5. Error Handling, Logging, and Retry Mechanisms

Our service already includes basic error handling and logging.

• Error Handling Strategy:
  • Validate inputs early in the service function (using robust validation like zod in production).
  • Use try...catch blocks around external API calls (like client.messages.create).
  • Return a structured response (SendMmsResponse) indicating success or failure, including an error message if applicable.
  • Avoid leaking sensitive details in error messages sent back to the client. Log detailed errors on the server.
• Logging:
  • RedwoodJS provides a Pino-based logger (api/src/lib/logger.ts).
  • We used logger.info, logger.debug, and logger.error in the service.
  • Logs by default go to the console during development (yarn rw dev). In production, configure log outputs (e.g., to standard output for capture by hosting platforms or log aggregation services).
  • Log Levels: Use appropriate levels: debug for detailed diagnostic info, info for significant events (like successful sends), warn for potential issues, error for failures.
  • Log Analysis: When troubleshooting, examine the server logs for detailed error messages from the Twilio library or your own code, including input parameters and stack traces. The Twilio Console's Messaging Logs and Debugger are also invaluable.
• Retry Mechanisms:
  • Not Implemented Here: For simplicity, this guide doesn't implement automatic retries.
  • Strategy: For transient network errors or temporary Twilio issues, you might implement a retry strategy (e.g., using libraries like async-retry).
  • Considerations:
    • Use exponential backoff to avoid overwhelming the API.
    • Only retry on specific error types (e.g., network errors, rate limiting 429 errors), not permanent errors (like invalid phone numbers 21211).
    • Be careful not to send duplicate messages if the initial request did succeed but the response was lost. Check the Twilio logs or use idempotency keys if necessary.
  • Alternative: For high-volume or critical messaging, consider using Twilio Messaging Services, which handle queueing and some retry logic internally.

6. Database Schema and Data Layer (Conceptual)

While this specific function doesn't require a database, a real-world application often would.

• Potential Uses:

  • Message History: Store records of sent messages (recipient, body, media URL, Twilio SID, status, timestamp).
  • Recipient Management: Store user profiles or contact lists with phone numbers.
  • Audit Trail: Log who initiated which message send request.

• RedwoodJS/Prisma:

  • Define models in api/db/schema.prisma.
  • Use yarn rw prisma migrate dev to create/update the database schema.
  • Use Prisma Client within your services (e.g., import { db } from 'src/lib/db') to interact with the database (e.g., db.messageLog.create(...)).

• Example Schema Snippet (Conceptual):

  prismaCopy

  // api/db/schema.prisma
  
  model MessageLog {
    id          String   @id @default(cuid())
    createdAt   DateTime @default(now())
    updatedAt   DateTime @updatedAt
  
    to          String
    from        String
    body        String?
    mediaUrl    String?
    twilioSid   String   @unique // Index this for lookups
    status      String?           // e.g., 'queued', 'sent', 'delivered', 'failed'
    errorCode   Int?
    errorMessage String?
  
    // Optional: Link to a User model if sends are user-initiated
    // userId String?
    // user   User?   @relation(fields: [userId], references: [id])
  }

• Implementation: You would modify the sendMms service to write to this MessageLog table after initiating the send or receiving status callbacks from Twilio.

7. Adding Security Features

Security is paramount when dealing with external APIs and user data.

• Input Validation and Sanitization:
  • Our basic validateInput function is a start.
  • Use libraries like zod for more robust schema validation on inputs (as mentioned in Section 2). Install with yarn workspace api add zod and integrate into validateInput.
  • Sanitize any user-provided text used in the body if necessary (e.g., prevent injection attacks if the body content is dynamic), though less critical if the body is system-generated. Validate mediaUrl format strictly. Ensure to number format is strictly validated (E.164).
• Secrets Management:
  • NEVER hardcode credentials (Account SID, Auth Token) in your source code.
  • Use .env locally and environment variables in production hosting environments.
  • Restrict access to production environment variables.
• Authentication & Authorization:
  • Use RedwoodJS's built-in auth (yarn rw setup auth <provider>) to protect the mutation (@requireAuth instead of @skipAuth).
  • Implement authorization logic within the service function: Does the authenticated user have permission to send an MMS? Can they send to any number or only specific ones? (See Section 3 explanation).
• Rate Limiting:
  • Twilio Limits: Twilio enforces rate limits per number/account. Exceeding them results in 429 Too Many Requests errors.
  • Application Limits: Implement rate limiting on your GraphQL endpoint (e.g., using middleware or libraries like graphql-rate-limit-directive) to prevent abuse by individual users or clients hammering your API, which could exhaust your Twilio limits or incur high costs.
• Common Vulnerabilities: Protect against standard web vulnerabilities (XSS, CSRF, etc.) on the frontend if user input influences message content or recipients. RedwoodJS has built-in protections, but diligence is required.
• Testing: Use security scanning tools, perform penetration testing, and review code for security best practices.

8. Handling Special Cases

Real-world messaging has edge cases:

• MMS Support: MMS is primarily supported in the US and Canada. Sending MMS to numbers outside these regions will likely fail or be converted to SMS (stripping media). Check Twilio's documentation for international MMS support details.
• Carrier Filtering: Mobile carriers may filter messages perceived as spam. Adhere to regulations (like A2P 10DLC in the US) and best practices. Using Toll-Free numbers or Short Codes might have different requirements and filtering levels than standard long codes.
• Invalid Numbers: The to number might be improperly formatted (despite validation), non-existent, or incapable of receiving MMS. The Twilio API usually returns specific error codes (e.g., 21211 Invalid 'To' Phone Number, 21614 'To' number is not MMS capable). Handle these errors gracefully in your application logic (e.g., update message log status).
• Media URL Issues:
  • Inaccessibility: As mentioned, the URL must be public. Error code 12300 Invalid Content-Type is common if Twilio can't fetch or understand the media.
  • File Types/Sizes: Twilio supports common image types (JPEG, PNG, GIF). There are size limits (typically around 5MB, but varies by carrier). Check Twilio's MediaUrl documentation for specifics.
• Trial Account Limitations: Twilio trial accounts have restrictions: sending only to verified numbers, a prepended "Sent from a Twilio trial account" message, and limited sending volume. Upgrade to a paid account for production use.
• E.164 Formatting: Always use E.164 format (+ followed by country code and number, e.g., +16505551234) for both to and from numbers. Ensure your validation strictly enforces this.

9. Implementing Performance Optimizations

For sending single MMS messages, performance is less critical, but for higher volumes:

• Batching (Iteration): If sending the same message to multiple recipients, iterate through the list and call client.messages.create for each. Avoid sending one giant request.
• Asynchronous Processing: For bulk sends initiated by a user request, don't make the user wait. Trigger a background job (e.g., using RedwoodJS API-side jobs or external queue systems like Redis/BullMQ, RabbitMQ) to process the sends asynchronously. The initial API response would just confirm the job was queued.
• Twilio Messaging Services: For scaling, use Twilio Messaging Services. They offer features like:
  • Sender Pools: Automatically distribute sending across multiple numbers.
  • Sticky Sender: Maintain the same from number for conversations.
  • Scalability: Better handling of throughput and queueing.
  • Geo-Match: Use local numbers when available.
  • Short Code/Toll-Free Number Management: Centralized configuration. To use a Messaging Service, you provide its messagingServiceSid instead of the from number in the client.messages.create call.
• Caching: Not directly applicable to the sending action itself, but you might cache recipient lists or message templates if fetched frequently from a database.

10. Monitoring, Observability, and Analytics

Monitor the health and performance of your MMS sending functionality.

• RedwoodJS Logging: As discussed, configure and monitor server logs.
• Twilio Console:
  • Messaging Logs: Essential for debugging. Filter by number, status, date, and SID. Shows message details, status, error codes, and price.
  • Debugger: Shows detailed API error and warning notifications with explanations.
• Application Performance Monitoring (APM): Integrate APM tools (e.g., Sentry, Datadog, New Relic) to track API endpoint performance (sendMms mutation response times), error rates, and trace requests through your service.
• Health Checks: Implement a basic health check endpoint in your Redwood API (e.g., /health) that potentially checks database connectivity or even tries a cheap Twilio API call (like client.api.v2010.accounts(accountSid).fetch()) to verify credentials and connectivity.
• Metrics & Dashboards:
  • Track key metrics: number of MMS sent, success rate, failure rate, average processing time.
  • Use your logging/APM tool or dedicated monitoring platforms to create dashboards visualizing these metrics over time.
  • Set up alerts (e.g., in Sentry/Datadog) for high error rates or latency spikes.
• Twilio Status Callbacks: For real-time status updates (queued, sending, sent, delivered, failed), configure a statusCallback URL in your client.messages.create call. This URL points to another endpoint in your Redwood API that receives POST requests from Twilio whenever the message status changes. This is crucial for tracking final delivery success/failure.

11. Troubleshooting and Caveats

Common issues and their solutions:

• Error: Authentication Error / Credentials Invalid (20003)
  • Cause: Incorrect TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID or TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN in .env.
  • Solution: Double-check values against the Twilio Console. Ensure the .env file is being loaded correctly by the API server process. Restart the dev server after changes.
• Error: Invalid 'To' Phone Number (21211)
  • Cause: The to number is not in E.164 format (missed by validation), is invalid, or doesn't exist.
  • Solution: Verify the input number format (+countrycodenumber). Ensure it's a real, reachable number. Improve input validation.
• Error: 'From' number is not a valid Sender ID (21606) or Not MMS Capable (21612, 21614)
  • Cause: The TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER in .env is incorrect, doesn't belong to your account, or isn't enabled for MMS.
  • Solution: Verify the number in .env matches the MMS-capable number purchased in the Twilio Console (in E.164 format). Check its capabilities in the console.
• Error: Cannot fetch MediaUrl (12300)
  • Cause: The provided mediaUrl is inaccessible to Twilio (private, requires login, invalid format, localhost).
  • Solution: Ensure the URL is public, correctly formatted, and points directly to the media file. Test accessibility using curl or an incognito browser window.
• Message Sent (SID returned) but Not Received:
  • Cause: Carrier filtering, incorrect to number (valid format but wrong person), recipient device issue, trial account sending to unverified number.
  • Solution: Check Twilio Messaging Logs for status (sent, delivered, undelivered, failed) and any error codes. Verify the to number. Ensure the recipient number is verified if using a trial account. Investigate potential carrier filtering (A2P 10DLC compliance might be needed).

Related Resources

For more information on integrating Twilio with RedwoodJS and Node.js applications, explore these helpful resources:

• Twilio Programmable Messaging API Documentation - Official API reference for SMS and MMS
• RedwoodJS Documentation - Complete guide to the RedwoodJS framework
• Twilio Node.js Helper Library - SDK documentation for Node.js integration
• RedwoodJS GraphQL Guide - Learn more about GraphQL mutations and resolvers