Securely Send MMS with Plivo in Next.js using NextAuth - code-examples -

Frequently Asked Questions

You can send MMS messages by creating a secure API endpoint in your Next.js application using the Plivo Node.js SDK. This endpoint, protected by NextAuth.js, handles the interaction with the Plivo API to send multimedia messages after verifying user authentication and input validation. A simple frontend interface allows users to input recipient details, text, and media URL.
NextAuth.js is used for user authentication. It ensures only logged-in users can access and trigger the MMS sending functionality via the secure API endpoint. This is important for protecting your Plivo credentials and preventing unauthorized message sending.
Plivo is a cloud communications platform providing reliable messaging services. Its developer-friendly Node.js SDK simplifies the integration with your Next.js application, handling the complexities of sending MMS messages. Plivo offers various features and global reach for messaging.
The Plivo client should be initialized within the server-side API route handler that processes the MMS sending request. This ensures the client is created for each request and that API credentials are handled securely on the server.
You'll need your Plivo AUTH ID, AUTH TOKEN, and an MMS-enabled Plivo phone number. These are found in your Plivo Console dashboard. Store these securely as environment variables (`PLIVO_AUTH_ID`, `PLIVO_AUTH_TOKEN`, `PLIVO_SENDER_NUMBER`) in a `.env.local` file, which should *never* be committed to version control.
Wrap the `client.messages.create` call in a `try...catch` block within your API route handler. Log the error using `console.error` and return a 500 response with a user-friendly error message. Include details about the error from Plivo for debugging when possible.
Use NextAuth's `getServerSession` function within the API route handler (`/api/send-mms`). This function checks for a valid NextAuth session based on the JWT cookie. Return a 401 Unauthorized response if no session exists.
Prisma is used for user data management, especially when using authentication providers like Credentials. It stores user data, sessions, accounts, and other authentication-related information. Prisma isn't directly involved in the MMS sending process via Plivo but manages users for NextAuth.
The request body should be JSON with three fields: `to` (recipient's phone number in E.164 format), `text` (the message body), and `mediaUrl` (a publicly accessible URL of the media file).
You need Node.js v18+, npm or yarn, a Plivo account with an MMS-enabled number, basic understanding of React/Next.js, and a publicly accessible media URL. You will also need the Plivo Node.js SDK.
Log in to your Plivo console and navigate to "Phone Numbers" -> "Your Numbers" to check your existing numbers. If you don't have an MMS-enabled number, buy one by going to "Buy Numbers" and filtering the search options by MMS capability.
Plivo supports common image formats like JPEG, PNG, and GIF for MMS messages. Ensure the URL you provide in the `mediaUrl` parameter points to a publicly accessible file of a supported format. Plivo allows media upload through their console or API.
Create a NextAuth API route handler (`/api/auth/[...nextauth]/route.ts`) with a configuration file specifying providers, session strategy, and database adapter if needed. Use `getServerSession` in the MMS API route to check for an active session.
Yes, you can test sending MMS during development using tools like `curl` to send requests to the `POST /api/send-mms` endpoint. Ensure Plivo is configured to send to sandbox or test numbers.