Skip to contentSkip to navigationSkip to topbar
Rate this page:
On this page

Programmable Voice API Overview


Twilio's Voice API(link takes you to an external page) helps you to make, receive, and monitor calls around the world.

Using this REST API, you can make outgoing calls, modify calls in progress, and query metadata about calls you've created. More advanced call features like programmatic call control, creating conference calls and call queues, call recordings, and conversational IVRs are at your fingertips with Twilio's Programmable Voice.

You can also use the API to route voice calls with global reach to phones, browsers, SIP domains, and mobile applications.

(information)

Info

You can obtain numbers by using the Phone Numbers API


Base URL

base-url page anchor

All URLs referenced in the documentation have the following base:


_10
https://api.twilio.com/2010-04-01

The Twilio REST API is served over HTTPS. To ensure data privacy, unencrypted HTTP is not supported.

(information)

Info

You can control your connectivity into Twilio's platform by including your specific edge location in the subdomain. This will allow you to bring Twilio's public or private network connectivity closer to your applications for improved performance.

For instance customers with infrastructure in Australia can make use of the sydney edge location by using the base url of:


_10
https://api.sydney.us1.twilio.com/2010-04-01


Voice API Authentication

voice-api-authentication page anchor

HTTP requests to the REST API are protected with HTTP Basic authentication(link takes you to an external page). To learn more about how Twilio handles authentication, please refer to our security documentation. In short, you will use your Twilio account SID as the username and your auth token as the password for HTTP Basic authentication.


_10
curl -G https://api.twilio.com/2010-04-01/Accounts \
_10
-u '[YOUR ACCOUNT SID]:[YOUR AUTH TOKEN]'

You can find your account SID and auth token in the Twilio Console(link takes you to an external page).

(information)

Info

To learn more about authentication and interaction with the Twilio REST API, check out our documentation for requests to the API and Twilio's response.


Make and manage calls with the Voice API

make-and-manage-calls-with-the-voice-api page anchor

Twilio's Voice API lets you make and manage calls programmatically.

(information)

Info

To make an outbound call with the API, POST to the Call resource.

You can also leverage the REST API to query metadata and manage state for:

Leverage the helper libraries and Voice SDKs to make or receive calls

leverage-the-helper-libraries-and-voice-sdks-to-make-or-receive-calls page anchor

Make, receive, or manage calls from any web interface or mobile application.

For step-by-step instructions on how to do this with one of our supported helper libraries or SDKs, check out the quickstarts for:

Programmatic call control

programmatic-call-control page anchor

The basics of most call flows start with the ability to say strings of text and gather DTMF keypad input.

You can use the Voice API directly to create outbound calls and query and manage state for conferences, queues, and recordings.

Twilio's markup language, TwiML, is the primary language used to control actions on Twilio. For instance, you'll need to use TwiML's <Say> to read some text to a person on a Twilio call.

Twilio provides helper libraries in 6 supported web programming languages: C#/.NET(link takes you to an external page), Java(link takes you to an external page), Node.js(link takes you to an external page), PHP(link takes you to an external page), Python(link takes you to an external page), and Ruby(link takes you to an external page). These helper libraries make including TwiML in your web application a seamless process.

For instance, you can use one of our helper libraries to read some text to a caller and gather their input via keypad: select your language of choice to get started.

Conference calls & Queueing

conference-calls--queueing page anchor

Twilio's TwiML provides intelligent Conference and Queue primitives to take the heavy lifting out of building seamless call experiences:

With Twilio's Voice API, you can record, store, and transcribe calls with a little bit of code:


Manage SIP calls with Twilio's API

manage-sip-calls-with-twilios-api page anchor

Route calls from your existing VoIP infrastructure to Twilio for programmatic call control - without migrating hardware or carriers with SIP interface.

Programmable Voice SIP lets you route your voice calls with global reach to any landline phone, mobile phone, browser, mobile app, or any other SIP endpoint.


Explore rich communications

explore-rich-communications page anchor

Explore the power of Twilio's Voice API with our quickstarts, see how to make calls or respond to incoming calls, modify calls, and more by diving into our collection of tutorials for Programmable Voice.


Get help integrating the Voice API

get-help-integrating-the-voice-api page anchor

Twilio's Voice API is a flexible building block that can take you from making your first phone call.

While we hope this page gives a good overview of what you can do with the API, we're only scratching the surface: check out our troubleshooting tips to learn about Twilio's debugging tools, common issues, and other tools and add-ons like Voice Insights(link takes you to an external page).

If you need any help integrating the Programmable Voice API or want to talk best practices, please get in touch. You can give us feedback by using the rating widget on this page, talking to support(link takes you to an external page), talking to sales(link takes you to an external page), or reaching out on Twitter(link takes you to an external page).

We can't wait to see what you build!


Rate this page: