From twilio-developer-kit
Send messages via Twilio's Programmable Messaging API across all channels — SMS, MMS, RCS, and WhatsApp. Covers text messages, media, rich content (cards, carousels, buttons), template-based sends, Messaging Services, status callbacks, and WhatsApp's 24-hour service window. Use when the user wants to send a message — whether they say "send SMS", "text message", "branded message", "rich message", "WhatsApp message", "RCS message", "notification", or "alert". For picking the right channel for a use case, first consult twilio-messaging-channel-advisor.
npx claudepluginhub twilio/ai --plugin twilio-developer-kitThis skill uses the workspace's default tool permissions.
**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`.
Guides Next.js Cache Components and Partial Prerendering (PPR): 'use cache' directives, cacheLife(), cacheTag(), revalidateTag() for caching, invalidation, static/dynamic optimization. Auto-activates on cacheComponents: true.
Guides building MCP servers enabling LLMs to interact with external services via tools. Covers best practices, TypeScript/Node (MCP SDK), Python (FastMCP).
Share bugs, ideas, or general feedback.
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:+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.
twilio-account-setupTWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID, TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN — see twilio-iam-auth-setuppip install twilio / npm install twiliotwilio-account-setup)twilio-rcs-messaging)twilio-whatsapp-send-message for sandbox, twilio-whatsapp-manage-senders for production)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
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.",
});
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.
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.
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).
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.
| 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 |
messages.create() = one channel. For multi-channel fallback, use RCS→SMS via a Messaging Service, or implement sequencing in your app.content_sid). See twilio-whatsapp-send-message.from sends don't support FallbackFrom.twilio-messaging-channel-advisortwilio-messaging-overviewtwilio-sms-send-message, twilio-rcs-messaging, twilio-whatsapp-send-messagetwilio-messaging-servicestwilio-content-template-buildertwilio-messaging-webhookstwilio-compliance-onboardingtwilio-verify-send-otp