How to Send WhatsApp Messages Using Twilio API in Node.js

Set Up Twilio SDK in Node.js Project

• Create a new Node.js project or navigate to your existing one. Ensure that you have initialized it with a package.json file.

 

• Install the Twilio SDK using npm to interact with the API:

npm install twilio

Configure Environment Variables

• Create a `.env` file in the root of your project to store your Twilio credentials securely. Add your Twilio Account SID and Auth Token:

 

• It's crucial to use environment variables for sensitive information to avoid hardcoding them in your source files. Leverage packages like dotenv for loading these variables.

TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID=your_account_sid
TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN=your_auth_token
TWILIO_WHATSAPP_NUMBER=whatsapp:+14155238886  <!-- This is Twilio's Sandbox number -->

Initialize Twilio Client

• Load the environment variables at the start of your application script and initialize the Twilio client:

require('dotenv').config();
const twilio = require('twilio');

const client = twilio(process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID, process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN);

Create a Function to Send WhatsApp Message

• Define a function that sends a WhatsApp message using the Twilio client. This function takes parameters such as the recipient’s phone number and the message body:

async function sendWhatsAppMessage(to, body) {
  try {
    const message = await client.messages.create({
      from: process.env.TWILIO_WHATSAPP_NUMBER,
      to: `whatsapp:${to}`,
      body: body
    });

    console.log('Message sent:', message.sid);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error sending message:', error);
  }
}

Invoke Message Sending Function

• Call the function with the recipient's number and your desired message:

sendWhatsAppMessage('recipient_number', 'Hello from Node.js via Twilio!');

Handling Twilio Sandbox for WhatsApp

• Initially, use Twilio's Sandbox for WhatsApp. You need to join the sandbox by sending a message to the provided number. This step is usually done manually.

 

• The sandbox allows you to test sending WhatsApp messages to approved numbers only. For a production setup, you must apply for WhatsApp Business API access through Twilio.

Enhance Error Handling

• Consider expanding error handling to cover possible scenarios, such as connectivity issues or incorrect phone numbers. This can involve specific error logging or retry mechanisms.

Test the Implementation

• Ensure that the recipient is added to the Twilio Sandbox before testing, and then run your Node.js application to test the message sending functionality.

 

• Check Twilio's logs on their dashboard if messages are not being delivered to diagnose potential issues promptly.