twilio-send-message

## Overview **A single `messages.create()` call sends on any messaging channel — SMS, MMS, RCS, or WhatsApp.** The channel is determined by the sender address and the recipient's capabilities. For channel selection guidance and the full onboarding sequence, see `twilio-messaging-overview` and `twilio-messaging-channel-advisor`. | Channel | `to` format | Notes | Template required? | |---------|-------------|-------|--------------------| | SMS/MMS | `+15551234567` | MMS: US/CA/AU only | No | | RCS (with SMS fallback) | `+15551234567` | Send via Messaging Service that has both an RCS sender and an SMS sender — Twilio attempts RCS first, falls back to SMS on failure | No | | RCS (no fallback) | `rcs:+15551234567` | Forces RCS only — fails if recipient isn't RCS-capable | No | | WhatsApp | `whatsapp:+15551234567` | Send via `whatsapp:`-prefixed `from` | Outside 24-hr window: yes | **For production:** Send via `messagingServiceSid` instead of `from`. This enables sender pool management, RCS→SMS fallback, SMS pumping protection, link shortening, compliance toolkit, and scheduling. See `twilio-messaging-services`. --- ## Prerequisites - Twilio account — New to Twilio? See `twilio-account-setup` - Environment variables: `TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID`, `TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN` — see `twilio-iam-auth-setup` - SDK: `pip install twilio` / `npm install twilio` - Channel-specific senders: - SMS/MMS: a Twilio phone number (see `twilio-account-setup`) - RCS: an RCS sender added to a Messaging Service (see `twilio-rcs-messaging`) - WhatsApp: an active WhatsApp sender (see `twilio-whatsapp-send-message` for sandbox, `twilio-whatsapp-manage-senders` for production) --- ## Quickstart **Python** ```python import os from twilio.rest import Client client = Client(os.environ["TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID"], os.environ["TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN"]) # SMS sms = client.messages.create( from_="+15017122661", to="+15558675310", body="Your order has shipped." ) # RCS — forces RCS only, no fallback rcs = client.messages.create( messaging_service_sid="MGxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx", to="rcs:+15558675310", body="Your order has shipped." ) # WhatsApp whatsapp = client.messages.create( from_="whatsapp:+15017122661", to="whatsapp:+15558675310", body="Your order has shipped." ) # Via Messaging Service (recommended — attempts RCS first, falls back to SMS) msg = client.messages.create( messaging_service_sid="MGxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx", to="+15558675310", body="Your order has shipped." ) ``` **Node.js** ```javascript const client = require("twilio")(process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID, process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN); // SMS const sms = await client.messages.create({ from: "+15017122661", to: "+15558675310", body: "Your order has shipped.", }); // RCS — forces RCS only, no fallback const rcs = await client.messages.create({ messagingServiceSid: "MGxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx", to: "rcs:+15558675310", body: "Your order has shipped.", }); // WhatsApp const whatsapp = await client.messages.create({ from: "whatsapp:+15017122661", to: "whatsapp:+15558675310", body: "Your order has shipped.", }); // Via Messaging Service (attempts RCS first, falls back to SMS) const msg = await client.messages.create({ messagingServiceSid: "MGxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx", to: "+15558675310", body: "Your order has shipped.", }); ``` --- ## Key Patterns ### Send with media (MMS, WhatsApp, RCS) ```python client.messages.create( from_="+15017122661", to="+15558675310", body="Here is your invoice.", media_url=["https://example.com/invoice.pdf"] ) ``` Supported: images (JPEG, PNG, GIF), PDF, audio, video. 5 MB max per attachment. ### Send a template (WhatsApp required outside 24-hr window; RCS rich content) ```python client.messages.create( messaging_service_sid="MGxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx", to="+15558675310", content_sid="HXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx", content_variables='{"1": "Sarah", "2": "12345"}' ) ``` See `twilio-content-template-builder` for building templates. ### Track delivery status ```python client.messages.create( messaging_service_sid="MGxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx", to="+15558675310", body="Hello!", status_callback="https://yourapp.com/status" ) ``` Twilio POSTs at each state transition: `queued → sent → delivered` (or `failed`/`undelivered`). ### Configure RCS→SMS fallback Configured on the Messaging Service, not per-message. Add both an RCS sender and an SMS sender to the same Messaging Service. Twilio attempts RCS first and falls back to SMS on failure. See `twilio-messaging-services` and `twilio-rcs-messaging`. --- ## Common Errors | Code | Meaning | Fix | |------|---------|-----| | 21211 | Invalid `to` number | Validate E.164 format | | 21408 | Region not permitted | Enable geo-permissions in Console | | 21610 | Recipient opted out | Do not retry; respect opt-out | | 21664 | `FallbackFrom` cannot be used with `From` sender | Use `messaging_service_sid` instead of `from` | | 21666 | `FallbackFrom` requires `MessagingServiceSid` | Send via a Messaging Service | | 21667 | `FallbackFrom` requires an RCS Sender on the Messaging Service | Add an RCS sender before configuring fallback | | 30003 | Unreachable destination | Carrier cannot deliver | | 30007 | Message filtered as spam | Review content and sender reputation | | 30034 | US A2P 10DLC — sender not registered | Register brand + campaign. See `twilio-compliance-onboarding` | | 30036 | Validity Period expired | Message aged out. Often indicates RCS fallback is misconfigured | | 63036 | RCS recipient unreachable | Configure SMS fallback on the Messaging Service | --- ## CANNOT - **Cannot send cross-channel in a single API call.** One `messages.create()` = one channel. For multi-channel fallback, use RCS→SMS via a Messaging Service, or implement sequencing in your app. - **Cannot send WhatsApp free-form outside the 24-hour service window.** Use a pre-approved template (`content_sid`). See `twilio-whatsapp-send-message`. - **Cannot send MMS outside US/Canada.** For international rich media, use WhatsApp or RCS. - **Cannot configure RCS→SMS fallback without a Messaging Service.** Raw `from` sends don't support `FallbackFrom`. - **Cannot guarantee delivery on any channel.** Always implement status callbacks. --- ## Next Steps - **Pick a channel for your use case:** `twilio-messaging-channel-advisor` - **Full messaging platform overview:** `twilio-messaging-overview` - **Channel-specific deep dives:** `twilio-sms-send-message`, `twilio-rcs-messaging`, `twilio-whatsapp-send-message` - **Sender pools, fallback, production features:** `twilio-messaging-services` - **Build templates (cards, carousels, quick replies):** `twilio-content-template-builder` - **Handle inbound messages and status callbacks:** `twilio-messaging-webhooks` - **US A2P 10DLC compliance:** `twilio-compliance-onboarding` - **OTP / verification use cases:** `twilio-verify-send-otp`