---
title: using Cloud Code
slug: docs/android/push-notifications/parse-push-notifications
description: In this guide you learn how to send push notifications using a cloud function
image: https://www.back4app.com/images/logo-social.png
docTags:
createdAt: 2024-03-14T16:22:20.876Z
---
# Send Parse push notifications using Cloud Code
## Introduction
This section explains how you can send push notifications using Cloud Code through Back4App.
This is how it will look like:
::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/EiFlOChZLMHV5aMdWSbrr_push-cloud-code.gif" size="50" width="290" height="580" position="center" showCaption="false"}
:::hint{type="success"}
At any time, you can access the complete Android Project built with this tutorial at our [Github repository.](https://github.com/back4app/android-cloud-code-push)
:::
## Prerequisites
:::hint{type="info"}
**To complete this tutorial, we need:**
- [Android Studio](https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html)
- An app created on Back4App.
- **Note: **Follow the [New Parse App tutorial](https://www.back4app.com/docs/get-started/new-parse-app) to learn how to create a Parse App on Back4App.
- An android app connected to Back4App.
- **Note: **Follow the [Install Parse SDK tutoria](https://www.back4app.com/docs/android/parse-android-sdk)l to create an Android Studio Project connected to Back4App.
- Follow the **Steps 1** to **5** of [Back4App Push Notification via Dashboard tutorial](https://www.back4app.com/docs/android/push-notifications/parse-server-push-notifications) carefully to set up Push Notifications to your app.
- A device (or[ virtual device](https://developer.android.com/studio/run/managing-avds.html)) running API level 27 or newer.
:::
## 1 - Set up Android to receive push
Every Parse application installed on a device registered for push notifications has an
associated `Installation` object. The `Installation` object is where you store all the data needed to target push notifications. For example, in your app, you could store which
teams one of your users is interested in to send updates about their performance. Saving the `Installation` object is also required for tracking push-related app open events.
The simplest way to start sending notifications is using channels. This allows you to use a
publisher-subscriber model for sending pushes. Devices start by subscribing to one or more channels, and notifications can later be sent to these subscribers. The channels subscribed to by a given `Installation` are stored in the `channels` field of the `Installation` object.
To start working with push notifications, the following steps are required:
:::hint{type="info"}
If you downloaded our [project template](https://github.com/back4app/android-cloud-code-push), don’t forget to change your credentials in the `app/src/main/res/values/string.xml` file and the `GCMSenderId` that you obtained at Firebase in the `AndroidManifest.xml` file.
:::
1. Import the following dependecies:
:::BlockQuote
*1 // Java Dependencies*
2 import java.util.ArrayList**;**
*3 // Parse Dependencies*
4 import com.parse.Parse**;**
5 import com.parse.ParseInstallation**;**
:::
2\. Initialize Parse with `Parse.initialize(this)`.
3\. Create a new array of channels and put the channels you would like to subscribe. In this example, the `News` channel is created.
4\. Add to your installation your `GCMSenderId`, obtained from the [Firebase Console](https://console.firebase.google.com/?pli=1), through the command `installation.put("GCMSenderId", "YOUR_FIREBASE_GCM_SENDER_ID_HERE")`.
:::hint{type="info"}
To know how you can obtain that key, look at **Step 1** of [Push Notifications via Dashboard tutorial](https://www.back4app.com/docs/android/push-notifications/parse-server-push-notifications).
:::
5\. Add the `channels` object to the `installation` through the command `installation.put("channels", channels)`.
6\. Save the installation to your database through `installation.saveInBackground()`.
The following code executes these steps:
```java
1 Parse.initialize(this);
2 ArrayList channels = new ArrayList<>();
3 channels.add("News");
4 ParseInstallation installation = ParseInstallation.getCurrentInstallation();
5 // don't forget to change the line below with the sender ID you obtained at Firebase
6 installation.put("GCMSenderId", "YOUR_FIREBASE_GCM_SENDER_ID_HERE");
7 installation.put("channels", channels);
8 installation.saveInBackground();
```
## 2 - Create your Cloud Code
:::hint{type="info"}
To know more about how to get started with **Cloud Code **look at [Cloud Code for Android Tutorial](https://www.back4app.com/docs/get-started/cloud-functions).
:::
1. Create a `.js`file to put your Cloud Code into. In this example, a `main.js` file is created.
2. Define a Cloud function, using `Parse.Cloud.Define`, to call the push notification. In this example, this function is called `Parse.Push.Send`.
:::hint{type="danger"}
It is required to use the **master key **in this operation.
:::
The following code executes these steps:
:::CodeblockTabs
Parse Server 3.X
```javascript
//main.js
1 Parse.Cloud.define("pushsample", (request) => {
2
3 return Parse.Push.send({
5 channels: ["News"],
6 data: {
7 title: "Hello from the Cloud Code",
8 alert: "Back4App rocks!",
9 }
10 }, { useMasterKey: true });
11 });
```
Parse Server 2.X
```javascript
//main.js
1 Parse.Cloud.define("pushsample", function (request, response) {
2 Parse.Push.send({
3 channels: ["News"],
4 data: {
5 title: "Hello from the Cloud Code",
6 alert: "Back4App rocks!",
7 }
8 }, {
9 success: function () {
10 // Push was successful
11 response.success("push sent");
12 console.log("Success: push sent");
13 },
14 error: function (error) {
15 // Push was unsucessful
16 response.error("error with push: " + error);
17 console.log("Error: " + error);
18 },
19 useMasterKey: true
20 });
21 });
```
:::
## 3 - Upload to Cloud Code
1. Go to your App at [Back4App website ](https://www.back4app.com/)and click on `Dashboard`.
2. Find the `Cloud Code` and click on `Functions & Web Hosting`. It looks like this:
3\. Upload or create a new file (you can also edit the current `main.js` file directly on the browser). Then, click at `Deploy` as shown here:
## 4 - Call Cloud Code from Android App
1. Import the following dependencies:
:::BlockQuote
*1 // Java Dependencies*
2 import java.util.HashMap**;** *// This includes the HasMap Object that the 4 Cloud function needs to call*
*3 // Parse Dependencies*
4 import com.parse.FunctionCallback**;**
5 import com.parse.ParseCloud**;**
6 import com.parse.ParseException**;**
:::
2\. Call the `ParseCloud.callFunctionInBackground` on the `pushsample` cloud function:
```java
1 final HashMap params = new HashMap<>();
2 // Calling the cloud code function
3 ParseCloud.callFunctionInBackground("pushsample", params, new FunctionCallback