Messaging API Overview
The Programmable Messaging REST API helps you add robust messaging capabilities to your applications.
Use the REST API to complete the following activities:
- Send messages
- Fetch, list, update, and delete messages
- Fetch, list, and delete media
- Manage your short codes
- Track message feedback
- Manage your Messaging Services
- Check SMS pricing by country
- Retrieve a list of deactivated US phone numbers
- Verify your toll-free number complies with regulations
To ensure data privacy, Twilio serves its APIs over HTTPS.
Messaging-related APIs use three base URLs:
The following API resources that process SMS messages point to the Base URL of https://api.twilio.com/2010-04-01.
The following API Resources that manage Messaging Services point to https://messaging.twilio.com/v1.
- Messaging Services Service Resource
- Messaging Services PhoneNumber Subresource
- Messaging Services ShortCode Subresource
- Messaging Services AlphaSender Subresource
- Messaging Services ChannelSender Subresource
The following API Resources that report on deactivated phone numbers and process toll-free verification requests also point to https://messaging.twilio.com/v1.
The API resource that reports on per-country SMS pricing points to the https://pricing.twilio.com/v1 base URL.
To authenticate requests to the Twilio APIs, Twilio supports HTTP Basic authentication. Use your API key as the username and your API key secret as the password. You can create an API key either in the Twilio Console or using the API.
Note: Twilio recommends using API keys for authentication in production apps. For local testing, you can use your Account SID as the username and your Auth token as the password. You can find your Account SID and Auth Token in the Twilio Console.
Learn more about Twilio API authentication.
1curl -G https://api.twilio.com/2010-04-01/Accounts \2-u $TWILIO_API_KEY:$TWILIO_API_KEY_SECRET
Info
Twilio monitors messages to prevent content violating the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). This helps to ensure that Twilio Messaging is seen as a trustworthy, high engagement channel and will not slow down the delivery of messages.
If a message you send has violated the AUP, it will be returned and you will receive an error code which identifies the necessary changes you need to make before sending it again.
To send an outbound message, send a POST request to the Message Resource.
-
To send media messages, use the
MediaUrlparameter in the request. -
To schedule an outbound Message to be sent in the future, use the
ScheduleTypeandSendAtparameters in the request. -
To send messages with shortened links, use the
ShortenUrlsparameter in the request.- Note: This feature is available only if you are using Messaging Services.
Looking for information on how to receive and reply to messages? Check out the Receive and Reply to Messages Guide.
Use the Message Resource to fetch, list, and delete Messages associated with your Account.
Redact messages by updating a Message Resource.
Twilio creates a Media Subresource when an incoming or outgoing Message Resource contains media.
You can fetch, list, and delete Media Subresources.
Fetch, list, and update your Account's short codes with the ShortCode Resource.
Track user-reported outcomes of Messages with the MessageFeedback Subresource.
Create, fetch, read, update, and delete Messaging Services with the Service Resource.
Manage your Messaging Services' senders with:
Check inbound and outbound SMS message pricing with the Country Pricing Resource.
Fetch a list of all US phone numbers that were deactivated on a given day with the Deactivations Resource.
Show your toll-free number complies with US and Canadian SMS regulations. Submit, fix, and remove toll-free verification (TFV) requests with the Verifications resource
- SMS developer quickstart
- Check out the Blog for inspiration on how you can build Messaging applications with a variety of languages and tools.
- Get started with toll-free verification.
- For help troubleshooting your Programmable Messaging application, check out the docs on Debugging Common Issues and Debugging Tools.
- Learn more about Twilio's Global Infrastructure, which allows you to control where your application's Twilio-related data is routed, processed, and stored.