Frequently Asked Questions
Use the Infobip API and Node.js SDK along with the Express framework to build an application that accepts recipient numbers and a message via a POST request. This application can handle bulk sending efficiently and securely by incorporating batching, rate limits, and error handling.
The Infobip API provides the core SMS sending functionality through its Node.js SDK. It handles the actual delivery of messages and provides delivery statuses, making it essential for building a bulk SMS application.
Node.js is a powerful asynchronous JavaScript runtime well-suited for building scalable network applications, making it ideal for handling concurrent SMS sending operations and managing large recipient lists efficiently.
Batching is crucial for sending large volumes of SMS messages efficiently and respecting rate limits. The article recommends setting batch sizes and delays between batches, configurable via environment variables `BROADCAST_BATCH_SIZE` and `BROADCAST_BATCH_DELAY_MS`.
While the guide uses JavaScript for simplicity, TypeScript is fully compatible and recommended for larger projects. Include the TypeScript dependencies and configure your development environment accordingly.
Implement batching with delays between sending each batch of messages to avoid exceeding Infobip's rate limits. This can be configured using environment variables for batch size and delay in milliseconds.
Use the `express-validator` middleware to validate incoming recipient phone numbers. The guide includes a basic regex check for international numbers, but you can add stricter validation based on your needs.
Install the `@infobip-api/sdk` package, configure the Infobip client with your API key and base URL (obtained from the Infobip portal), and then use the client to interact with the SMS API endpoints.
Log in to your Infobip account, navigate to the API Keys section, create a new key with appropriate permissions, and copy the generated API key. Your base URL, unique to your account, should be displayed on the API dashboard.
PostgreSQL is recommended for storing recipient lists, message logs, or other data. The example uses Prisma, an ORM, for streamlined database interaction. The connection URL is set via `DATABASE_URL` in `.env`.
The `dotenv` package is used to load environment variables from a `.env` file. This allows you to securely manage sensitive information like API keys and database credentials without committing them to version control.
`express-rate-limit` is a middleware for implementing basic API rate limiting, protecting your application from brute-force or denial-of-service attacks.
If you have a registered alphanumeric sender ID with Infobip, set the `INFOBIP_SENDER_ID` environment variable to your desired ID. This enhances branding and deliverability.
The provided example uses Winston for structured logging, writing logs to files and the console. The log level is configurable via the `LOG_LEVEL` environment variable.
This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step walkthrough for building a robust bulk SMS broadcast application using Node.js, the Express framework, and the Infobip API. We'll cover everything from project setup and core broadcast logic to error handling, security, deployment, and monitoring, enabling you to create a scalable and reliable messaging solution.
The final application will feature an API endpoint that accepts a list of recipients and a message, then efficiently broadcasts the message via SMS using Infobip, incorporating best practices for performance and resilience.
Project Overview and Goals
What We're Building:
A Node.js backend application with an Express API designed to:
Problem Solved:
Manually sending SMS messages to large groups is inefficient and error-prone. Existing tools might lack flexibility or specific integration needs. This guide provides the foundation for a custom, scalable solution to send targeted bulk SMS communications programmatically – ideal for notifications, alerts, marketing campaigns, or user engagement.
Technologies Used:
@infobip-api/sdk
): Cloud communications platform providing the SMS sending functionality via a developer-friendly SDK. Chosen for its robust features and clear documentation..env
file for secure configuration management.System Architecture:
Prerequisites:
1. Setting up the Project
Let's initialize our Node.js project and install the necessary dependencies.
1.1 Create Project Directory and Initialize:
Open your terminal and run the following commands:
This creates a new directory and initializes a
package.json
file with default settings.1.2 Install Dependencies:
express
: The web framework.dotenv
: To load environment variables.@infobip-api/sdk
: The official Infobip SDK.nodemon
: Utility to automatically restart the server during development. (Dev dependency)typescript
,@types/*
,ts-node
: For TypeScript support (optional, but recommended for larger projects). We'll use JavaScript in this guide for simplicity, but these are good additions. (Dev dependencies)@prisma/client
: Prisma's database client.pg
: Node.js driver for PostgreSQL.prisma
: Prisma CLI for migrations and studio. (Dev dependency)express-validator
: For API input validation.express-rate-limit
: Basic protection against brute-force/DoS attacks.winston
: For structured logging.1.3 Configure
package.json
Scripts:Add the following scripts to your
package.json
for easier development and execution:1.4 Project Structure:
Create the following directory structure to organize the code:
Create the empty files within these directories for now. Remember to manually create the
logs
directory:mkdir logs
.1.5 Setup
.env
File:Create a
.env
file in the project root. This file stores sensitive information and configurations. Never commit this file to version control.Important:
YOUR_INFOBIP_API_KEY
andYOUR_INFOBIP_BASE_URL
with your actual credentials obtained from the Infobip portal (see Section 4).DATABASE_URL
is an example. You must update theuser
,password
,localhost
(host),5432
(port), andbroadcast_db
(database name) parts to match your specific PostgreSQL database setup.BROADCAST_BATCH_SIZE
andBROADCAST_BATCH_DELAY_MS
control how the bulk sending is split into smaller requests. Adjust based on Infobip's recommendations or your plan limits.INFOBIP_SENDER_ID
is optional; if you have a registered alphanumeric sender ID, set it here.1.6 Setup
.gitignore
:Create a
.gitignore
file in the root directory to prevent committing sensitive files and unnecessary folders:2. Implementing Core Functionality (Bulk Broadcasting)
The core logic resides in the
BroadcastService
. It takes a list of recipients and a message, batches them, and sends them via the Infobip SDK, handling potential errors for each batch.2.1 Configure Logger:
Setup a reusable Winston logger. Ensure you have created the
logs
directory in your project root (mkdir logs
), or the file transport will fail.logs/error.log
,logs/combined.log
) and the console (during development).2.2 Configure Infobip Client:
Create a singleton instance of the Infobip client.
.env
.2.3 Implement the Broadcast Service:
This service contains the main logic for sending messages in batches.
recipients
array into smaller chunks defined byBATCH_SIZE
.BATCH_DELAY_MS
) between sending batches to avoid hitting rate limits.INFOBIP_SENDER_ID
in.env
. Using a registered alphanumeric sender ID often improves deliverability and branding (requires setup in Infobip).3. Building the API Layer
We'll use Express to create an API endpoint that triggers the broadcast service.
3.1 Implement Request Validation:
Use
express-validator
to ensure incoming requests have the correct structure.recipients
array (must exist, be an array, contain valid-looking phone number strings) and themessage
string (must exist, be non-empty, within length limits)./^\\+?[1-9]\\d{1,14}$/
) is a basic check. It allows an optional+
followed by digits, starting with 1-9. It matches common formats but isn't exhaustive for all global numbering plans. Rely on Infobip's API for definitive validation.3.2 Create the Broadcast Controller:
This handles the incoming request, calls the service, and sends the response.
broadcastService.broadcastSms
.3.3 Define API Routes:
Set up the Express router for the broadcast endpoint.
POST
route at/api/v1/broadcast
.3.4 Create the Main Server File:
Tie everything together in
server.js
.express.json
, request logger)./api/v1/broadcast
./health
endpoint for monitoring.3.5 Testing the API Endpoint:
Once the server is running (
npm run dev
), you can test the endpoint usingcurl
or Postman:Curl Example:
Note: The phone numbers
+14155550100
and+447123456789
are examples. Replace them with actual phone numbers you can test with. If using an Infobip free trial, you can likely only send messages to the phone number you verified during signup.Expected Successful Response (Status 200):
Example Validation Error Response (Status 400):
Example Rate Limit Response (Status 429):
4. Integrating with Infobip
This section details obtaining credentials and configuring the SDK.
4.1 Obtaining Infobip API Key and Base URL: