# Send SMS with AWS Lambda

Source: https://jointextkit.com/docs/send-with-aws-lambda
Index: https://jointextkit.com/llms.txt

Send a text from an AWS Lambda function (Node.js runtime) with the TextKit SDK.

## Prompt for your AI agent

Paste this into Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent to have it do the
integration:

```text
Add SMS sending to this AWS Lambda project with TextKit.

- Docs for this stack: https://jointextkit.com/docs/send-with-aws-lambda.md
- API: POST https://api.jointextkit.com/v1/messages with `Authorization: Bearer
  <key>` and a JSON body `{"to": "+1...", "body": "..."}`.
- Use the official SDK: bundle `jointextkit` with the function, set
  `TEXTKIT_API_KEY` in its environment, then `new TextKit().messages.send({ to,
  body })`.
- Read the key from the `TEXTKIT_API_KEY` environment variable. Never hardcode
  it or send it to the browser.
- Phone numbers are E.164 and US or Canada only (`+1` followed by 10 digits).
- A test key (`ssms_sk_test_`) simulates: `+15005550006` always ends `delivered`
  and no phone gets a text.
- Errors are JSON: `{"error": {"code", "message", "param"}}` with a 4xx status.
  On `429`, wait `Retry-After` seconds and retry.
- Send only from server code that runs after a real event (a signup, an order).
  Never expose an endpoint that texts any number a visitor types.
```

## Before you start

- **An API key.** [Create a free account](/signup) and copy the test key
  (`ssms_sk_test_...`) from Home in the console. It works at once, no card.
- **A Lambda function on the Node.js 18 runtime or later.**
- Put the key in an environment variable:

```bash
export TEXTKIT_API_KEY=ssms_sk_test_...
```

## 1. Install the SDK

```bash
mkdir send-sms && cd send-sms
npm init -y && npm install jointextkit
```

## 2. Write the handler

Create `index.mjs`:

```javascript
import { TextKit } from 'jointextkit';

const sms = new TextKit(); // reads TEXTKIT_API_KEY from the function's environment

export const handler = async (event) => {
  const { to, body } = typeof event.body === 'string' ? JSON.parse(event.body) : event;
  const message = await sms.messages.send({ to, body });
  return { statusCode: 200, body: JSON.stringify({ id: message.id, status: message.status }) };
};
```

## 3. Deploy it

```bash
zip -r function.zip index.mjs node_modules package.json
aws lambda update-function-code --function-name send-sms --zip-file fileb://function.zip
aws lambda update-function-configuration --function-name send-sms \
  --environment "Variables={TEXTKIT_API_KEY=ssms_sk_test_...}"
```

Invoke it with `{"to": "+15005550006", "body": "Hello from TextKit"}` as the test
event. It returns `{"id": "msg_...", "status": "delivered"}`.

## What the test key did

`+15005550006` is a sandbox number: the send comes back `delivered` and no
phone gets a text (the response says `"simulated": true`). Put your own
verified phone in `to` and the test key texts it for real. See
[Sandbox & test numbers](/docs/sandbox).

## Handle errors

The SDK throws a `TextKitError` with the API's `code`, `status` and
`message` (plus `param` for a bad field and `retryAfter` on a rate limit). It
retries network failures and `429`s for you, with an idempotency key, so a
retry never sends twice.

| Status | Code | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 400 | `invalid_request` | A field is missing or malformed; `param` names it. |
| 401 | `invalid_api_key` | The key is missing, revoked or mistyped. |
| 402 | `insufficient_credits` | Add credits; nothing was sent or charged. |
| 403 | `recipient_opted_out` | They texted STOP. Do not retry. |
| 429 | `rate_limited` | Wait `Retry-After` seconds, then retry. |

Every code is in [Errors](/docs/errors).

## Go live

1. **Add a number** in the [console](/console).
2. **Register your use case.** We file your 10DLC registration; toll-free
   numbers use a guided verification form. Until carriers approve it, the number
   texts only your verified numbers. See [Compliance & registration](/docs/compliance).
3. **Swap in a live key** (`ssms_sk_live_...`). The code stays the same.

## Next steps

- [Webhooks](/docs/webhooks): delivery receipts and replies, pushed to your server.
- [Verify](/docs/verify): one-time codes in two calls, billed only when verified.
- [Send an SMS](/docs/api/messages/send): every field the endpoint takes.
- [All quickstarts](/docs/quickstarts): the same guide for other languages and frameworks.