Frequently Asked Questions
You can send SMS messages with Node.js and Infobip using either manual HTTP requests with Axios or the official Infobip Node.js SDK. The SDK simplifies the process and is recommended for production, while the manual approach is good for learning. Both methods require your Infobip API Key and Base URL, stored securely in a .env file.
The Infobip Node.js SDK (@infobip-api/sdk) streamlines interaction with the Infobip API. It handles authentication and request structure internally, reducing boilerplate code compared to manual HTTP requests. This approach is generally preferred for production environments.
Infobip uses API keys for authentication and security, ensuring only authorized applications can access and use the SMS service. Treat your API key like a password and never expose it publicly or in version control.
The manual Axios approach is best when you need deep control over HTTP requests or are learning how the Infobip API works. However, for production, the official SDK is generally recommended for easier maintenance and API compatibility.
Yes, you can easily create a simple API endpoint using Express.js to expose your SMS sending functionality. This allows other applications to trigger SMS messages through your Node.js service.
Log in to your Infobip account, navigate to the dashboard for your Base URL, and find your API Key under your profile (or the 'Developers' section). Keep these credentials secure.
The dotenv module loads environment variables from a .env file, enabling you to store sensitive credentials like API keys securely outside of your codebase.
Use your preferred Node.js package manager: npm install @infobip-api/sdk (npm) or yarn add @infobip-api/sdk (yarn). This adds the SDK to your project dependencies.
You need Node.js and npm (or yarn) installed, an active Infobip account (a free trial is sufficient for testing), your Infobip API Key, and Base URL.
Express.js simplifies creating web servers and API endpoints in Node.js. It's lightweight, flexible, and widely used, making it a convenient choice for exposing SMS functionality.
Implement try...catch blocks in your SMS sending logic to handle potential errors, including network issues, invalid credentials, or problems with Infobip's service. Log errors using a structured logging library and consider retry mechanisms for transient errors.
Create separate modules for manual sending (sendManual.js), SDK sending (sendSdk.js), and an API server (server.js). Use dotenv for environment variables, and consider a structured logger for production.
Your Infobip Base URL is displayed prominently on your account dashboard after you log in to the Infobip portal. It's a domain specific to your account for accessing the API.
SDKs like Infobip's Node.js SDK simplify API interaction by handling authentication, request formatting, and response parsing. They reduce boilerplate code and are maintained for API compatibility.
Send SMS with Node.js and Infobip API
Send SMS messages programmatically using Node.js and the Infobip API. This complete guide shows you how to integrate Infobip SMS functionality into your Node.js application using either manual HTTP requests with Axios or the official Infobip SDK.
You'll learn to set up your Node.js project, authenticate with the Infobip API, send SMS messages using two different approaches, create an Express API endpoint for SMS delivery, implement production-ready error handling, and deploy your SMS service securely. Whether you're building a notification system, two-factor authentication, or marketing campaigns, this guide covers everything you need to send SMS with Node.js and Infobip.
Technologies Used:
.env
file.You need basic understanding of JavaScript, Node.js, and REST APIs.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have the following before you begin:
Why Use Infobip for SMS Integration?
Infobip provides a robust SMS API platform for sending transactional and marketing messages at scale. Developers choose Infobip for:
Common Use Cases:
Key Benefits:
This guide focuses on Node.js integration, but the concepts apply to other programming languages.
Getting Your Infobip API Credentials
Get two key pieces of information from your Infobip account:
Steps to find your credentials:
xxxxx.api.infobip.com
).API Keys
or navigate to theDevelopers
section.Keep these two values handy – you'll use them shortly.
1. Setting up the Project
Create a new Node.js project.
Create Project Directory: Open your terminal and create a new directory for your project, then navigate into it.
Initialize Node.js Project: Run
npm init
and follow the prompts. Accept the defaults by pressing Enter repeatedly, or customize the details. This creates apackage.json
file.(The
-y
flag accepts all defaults)Install Core Dependencies: Install
dotenv
to manage your API credentials securely.(If using yarn:
yarn add dotenv
)Create
.gitignore
: Prevent committing sensitive information and unnecessary files. Create a file named.gitignore
in your project root:Create
.env
File: Create a file named.env
in the project root to store your sensitive Infobip credentials. Add your API Key and Base URL:Important: Replace the placeholder values with your actual Infobip API Key, Base URL, and optionally your verified phone number (include the country code, e.g.,
+15551234567
).Now your basic project structure is ready.
2. Send SMS Messages with Node.js: Two Approaches
Send SMS using two approaches:
axios
. This provides deeper understanding of the API interaction.@infobip-api/sdk
. This simplifies the process and is recommended for production use.Approach 1: Send SMS with Axios HTTP Client
Use the
axios
HTTP client to directly interact with the Infobip Send SMS API endpoint (/sms/2/text/advanced
).Install Axios:
(If using yarn:
yarn add axios
)Create
sendManual.js
: Create a new file namedsendManual.js
containing the logic for sending SMS.Why this structure? Breaking down the logic into smaller, focused functions (URL building, header construction, body construction, response parsing) makes the code cleaner, easier to test, and more maintainable. The main
sendSmsManually
function orchestrates these steps and handles the overall success/error flow usingasync/await
for better readability. We added basic input validation and more robust error parsing.Create
index.js
for Testing: Create a file namedindex.js
in the project root to test thesendManual.js
module.Run the Test: Execute the
index.js
file from your terminal:You should see output indicating the attempt and then either a success message with details or an error message. Check your phone for the SMS! Remember, free trial accounts can typically only send to the phone number used during signup.
Approach 2: Send SMS with Infobip Official Node.js SDK
The official SDK (
@infobip-api/sdk
) abstracts away the direct HTTP calls, providing a cleaner interface.Install the SDK:
(If using yarn:
yarn add @infobip-api/sdk
)Create
sendSdk.js
: Create a new file namedsendSdk.js
.Why this structure? The SDK simplifies interaction significantly. We initialize the client once (or check if it exists) for efficiency. The
sendSmsWithSdk
function focuses on building the correct payload structure expected by the SDK method (client.channels.sms.send
) and handling its specific response and error formats.Update
index.js
for SDK Testing: Modifyindex.js
to use the SDK function.Run the Test:
Again, check your console output and your phone.
Choosing an Approach
axios
): Good for learning exactly how the API works, offers maximum control over the request, fewer dependencies if you already useaxios
. However, it requires more boilerplate code and manual maintenance if the API changes.@infobip-api/sdk
): Recommended for most production scenarios. It's easier to use, reduces code volume, handles authentication and request structure internally, and is maintained by Infobip, ensuring compatibility with API updates.For robustness and ease of maintenance, using the official SDK is generally the preferred approach.
3. Create a REST API Endpoint for SMS Sending (Optional)
Expose SMS functionality via a simple REST API using Express.
Install Express:
(If using yarn:
yarn add express
)Create
server.js
: Create a file namedserver.js
. We'll use the SDK implementation here for brevity.Run the Server:
The server will start, typically on port 3000.
Test the API Endpoint: You can use
curl
or a tool like Postman to send a POST request.Using
curl
: ReplaceYOUR_PHONE_NUMBER
with the recipient's number (must be verified for free trial).Expected Response (Success):
Expected Response (Failure - e.g., missing field):
4. Infobip API Authentication and Configuration
The core integration is complete:
Configuration: API Key (
INFOBIP_API_KEY
) and Base URL (INFOBIP_BASE_URL
) are stored securely in the.env
file and loaded usingdotenv
.Authentication: Handled either via the
Authorization: App YOUR_API_KEY
header (manual approach) or automatically by the SDK when configured withAuthType.ApiKey
.Dashboard Navigation: As detailed in the ""Getting Your Infobip API Credentials"" section.
Environment Variables:
INFOBIP_API_KEY
: Your secret key for API authentication. Obtain from Infobip portal API Keys section. Format: String.INFOBIP_BASE_URL
: Your account-specific API domain. Obtain from Infobip portal dashboard. Format: String (e.g.,xxxxx.api.infobip.com
).YOUR_VERIFIED_PHONE_NUMBER
: (Optional, for testing) The phone number linked to your Infobip trial account. Format: String (e.g.,+15551234567
).PORT
: (Optional, for server) The port number for the Express server to listen on. Format: Number.Fallback Mechanisms: For simple SMS sending, implement basic fallback by retrying requests (see Error Handling below). For critical systems, consider alternative providers or channels.
5. Production-Ready Error Handling and Logging
Implement solid error handling for robust applications.
Error Handling Strategy:
sendManual.js
andsendSdk.js
includetry...catch
blocks.{ success: false, errorMessage: '...', errorDetails: '...', statusCode: ... }
format.server.js
) catches errors during request processing and returns appropriate HTTP status codes (400 for bad input, 500 for server errors, or the status code from Infobip if available).Logging:
console.log
andconsole.error
.pino
orwinston
. This enables:pino
(npm install pino
) and initializing the logger.Retry Mechanisms:
async-retry
or implement a manual loop with exponential backoff (wait longer between each retry).async-retry
): Note: This requires installingasync-retry
(npm install async-retry
) and assumes alogger
instance is available.