---
title: Twilio
slug: docs/cloud-code-functions/integrations/twilio-api-send-text-message
description: In this guide you learn how to use Twilio in Back4App.
image: https://www.back4app.com/images/logo-social.png
docTags:
createdAt: 2024-02-28T14:15:56.628Z
---
# Using cloud functions and Twilio API to send Text Message
## Introduction
This guide explains how you can use the Twilio REST API to send SMS. After completing this step-by-step tutorial, you can use your cloud code function to send SMS to your device.
## Prerequisites
:::hint{type="info"}
To complete this tutorial, you will need:
- An app created at Back4App.
- Follow the [Create New App tutorial](https://www.back4app.com/docs/get-started/new-parse-app) to learn how to create an app at Back4App.
- Back4App Command Line Configured with the project.
- Follow the [Setting up Cloud Code tutorial](https://www.back4app.com/docs/local-development/parse-cli) to learn how to set up cloud code for a project.
- Account created in [Twilio](https://login.twilio.com/u/signup?state=hKFo2SBSTHoyUXZ1NnUzTjZaMHk2Q3EtaXV5LUtnUlhaMzdtN6Fur3VuaXZlcnNhbC1sb2dpbqN0aWTZIE9JTzFKSU9LaVMzTV9fYVo0VDM0a2pnSEpZM09SYUo4o2NpZNkgTW05M1lTTDVSclpmNzdobUlKZFI3QktZYjZPOXV1cks).
:::
## Let’s get started!
Below are some steps you need to follow when writing a function to send SMS to a User and phone number.
To learn how to create or access an Account in Twilio, check the links given below:
[Create a new account](https://www.twilio.com/try-twilio) - [Log in to your account](https://www.twilio.com/login)
## 1 - Activate your Phone Number
After logging in or creating a new account, you will be redirected to your Project. There, on the left, you need to click on the `#Phone Numbers`. Next, tap on the last link ‘Getting Started’, and then click on the button ‘Get your first Twilio phone number’. Same as shown below:
After that you will receive your first Phone Number for your Twilio Account. If you can’t find your phone number, go to #Phone Numbers and Manage Numbers.
## 2 - Get Account SID and Auth Token
To find your `Account SID` and `Auth Token`, log in to your Account, go to your Dashboard and click on Settings. All the important information about your Project will be available in that section; as shown in the image below:
::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/fBwxRTxumzqViO6-afJb6_image.png" size="70" width="450" height="425" position="center" showCaption="false"}
Now, you can Copy your SID and Authentication Token for the Cloud Code.
## 3 - Install Module from Twilio
After configuring the environment for the Command Line Interface in your computer, create a file called package.json, and inside this file, you need to install the Twilio module, like:
```json
1 {
2 "dependencies": {
3 "twilio": "*"
4 }
5 }
```
## 4 - Implement Cloud Code
:::CodeblockTabs
Parse Server 3.X
```javascript
1 Parse.Cloud.define("SendSMS", async(request) => {
2
3 // Requiring the values to send
4 let
5 getMessage = request.params.message,
6 getPhoneTo = '+Target test Phone number',
7 getPhoneFrom = "+Your first Phone number",
8 accountSid = 'AccountSID',
9 authToken = 'AuthToken';
10
11 //require the Twilio module and create a REST client
12 let client = require('twilio')(accountSid, authToken);
13
14 return await client.messages
15 .create({
16 body: getMessage, // Any number Twilio can deliver to
17 from: getPhoneFrom, // A number you bought from Twilio and can use for outbound communication
18 to: getPhoneTo // body of the SMS message
19 });
20 });
```
Parse Server 2.X
```javascript
1 Parse.Cloud.define("SendSMS",function(request,response){
2
3 // Requiring the values to send
4 var
5 getMessage = request.params.message,
6 getPhoneTo = '+Target test Phone number',
7 getPhoneFrom = "+Your first Phone number",
8 accountSid = 'AccountSID',
9 authToken = 'AuthToken';
10
11
12 //require the Twilio module and create a REST client
13 var client = require('twilio')(accountSid, authToken);
14
15 client.messages
16 .create({
17 body: getMessage, // Any number Twilio can deliver to
18 from: getPhoneFrom, // A number you bought from Twilio and can use for outbound communication
19 to: getPhoneTo // body of the SMS message
20 })
21 .then(function(results) {
22 response.success(results.sid);
23 })
24 .catch(function(error) {
25 response.error(error);
26 })
27 });
```
:::
## 5- Test the function “sendSMS”
You can also test the function in client SDKs, but for now, we will use the REST API command to send it:
```curl
curl -X POST \
-H "X-Parse-Application-Id: APP_ID" \
-H "X-Parse-REST-API-Key: REST_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{ "message": "Now, I can send SMS from Cloud Code using Twilio", "phone": "+Target test Phone number" }' \
https://parseapi.back4app.com/functions/SendSMS
```
And the result will be something like as this:
::Image[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/yD3zCY-NNBBIfd0uqcfR5/fUVk4Kb6xIhjLpQHTvmgV_image.png" size="60" width="500" height="889" position="center" showCaption="false"}
## 6 - It’s done!
With the guide described above, you’ll be able to use Twilio with a Cloud Code Function in Back4App and send SMS to your customers!
In case you need any help or a function/link doesn’t work, please contact our team via chat!