Frequently Asked Questions
You can send MMS messages by creating a Node.js application with Express that uses the Sinch MMS JSON API. This involves setting up a project with dependencies like Axios and dotenv, configuring your Sinch credentials, and implementing an API endpoint to handle MMS requests. Refer to the provided code examples for a step-by-step guide.
The Sinch MMS JSON API is a specific Sinch API endpoint and protocol for sending multimedia messages. It's important to consult the official Sinch documentation for the most up-to-date details on its structure, authentication methods, and required parameters, as these may change.
Sinch offers multiple APIs, such as legacy APIs and a unified Messages API, to cater to different integration needs and preferences. This tutorial specifically uses the MMS JSON API for its dedicated MMS capabilities.
Use the Sinch MMS JSON API when you need to send multimedia messages (MMS) containing images, videos, or audio alongside text within your application. It's ideal for automating communication workflows requiring rich media.
While this guide utilizes Axios, you can potentially use other HTTP client libraries for Node.js, but you'll have to adapt the code to the respective client's API and usage patterns. Axios is recommended for its ease of use with promises.
Set up Sinch credentials by creating a .env file containing your `SINCH_SERVICE_PLAN_ID`, `SINCH_API_TOKEN`, and `SINCH_NUMBER`. These are essential for interacting with the Sinch API. Never commit the .env file to version control, as it contains sensitive information.
The `fallbackText` parameter provides the message content for a fallback SMS if the recipient's device cannot receive MMS or if MMS delivery fails. It's required unless fallback is explicitly disabled using `disableFallbackSms`.
The MMS payload should be a JSON object with specific keys like 'to', 'from', 'message-subject', and 'slide'. The 'slide' key holds an array of slide objects. You must verify the correct structure according to the latest Sinch documentation for the MMS JSON API.
The provided code examples demonstrate error handling using try...catch blocks and status codes. The code logs detailed error information from Sinch, allowing you to identify the cause of failure. For production, enhance logging with tools like Pino and consider retry mechanisms with exponential backoff for transient errors.
The `client-reference` parameter is an optional field where you can include your own internal reference ID for the message, up to a recommended maximum of 64 characters. This helps you track and identify messages within your system.
Implement retry mechanisms when you want to increase the resilience of your MMS sending. Retries are useful for transient errors like network issues or temporary Sinch API unavailability (5xx errors). Use exponential backoff to prevent overwhelming the API.
Verifying the official Sinch MMS API documentation is crucial because endpoint URLs, payload structures, and other API specifics may vary depending on factors like your account settings, region, and API version. Using outdated information can lead to integration errors.
Media (images, videos, etc.) are added using the 'slides' parameter. Each 'slide' object can have media specified as a URL. These media URLs must be publicly accessible and return a Content-Length header. Always consult the Sinch API documentation for correct slide structure.
Sending MMS with Node.js, Express, and Sinch
This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough for building a production-ready Node.js application using the Express framework to send Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) messages via the Sinch MMS JSON API. We'll cover everything from initial project setup to deployment and monitoring.
Important: Sinch offers multiple APIs (e.g., legacy APIs, unified Messages API). This guide focuses on a specific MMS JSON API structure. Always verify endpoints, payload structures, authentication methods, and specific behaviors against the current, official Sinch documentation relevant to your account and the specific API product version you are using. API details can change.
By the end of this tutorial, you will have a functional Express API endpoint capable of accepting MMS details (recipient number, media URLs, text) and dispatching the message through Sinch, including handling fallbacks to SMS.
Project Overview and Goals
Goal: To create a robust backend service that enables sending MMS messages programmatically using Sinch's dedicated MMS API.
Problem Solved: Provides a reliable way to integrate rich media messaging into applications, automating communication workflows that require images, videos, or other media alongside text.
Technologies Used:
.env
file for secure credential management.System Architecture:
(Note: This is a simplified text-based representation.)
Prerequisites:
Content-Length
header.1. Setting up the Project
Let's initialize our Node.js project and install the necessary dependencies.
Step 1: Create Project Directory
Open your terminal and create a new directory for the project, then navigate into it.
Step 2: Initialize Node.js Project
Initialize the project using npm. Accept the defaults or customize as needed.
This creates a
package.json
file.Step 3: Install Dependencies
We need Express for the server, Axios to make HTTP requests, and dotenv to handle environment variables. We'll also add
nodemon
as a development dependency for easier development.Step 4: Configure Environment Variables
Create a file named
.env
in the root of your project. This file will store your sensitive credentials and configuration. Never commit this file to version control.SINCH_SERVICE_PLAN_ID
: Found on your Sinch Customer Dashboard. The exact name and location might vary. ReplaceYOUR_SERVICE_PLAN_ID
with your actual ID.SINCH_API_TOKEN
: Found on the Sinch Customer Dashboard, often near the Service Plan ID configuration. ReplaceYOUR_API_TOKEN
with your actual token.SINCH_NUMBER
: A virtual number assigned to your Sinch account, capable of sending MMS. Use the E.164 international format (e.g.,+12223334444
). ReplaceYOUR_SINCH_PHONE_NUMBER
with your actual Sinch number.SINCH_API_BASE_URL
: The base URL for the Sinch MMS API. Crucially, verify the correct URL and structure in the official Sinch documentation. It can vary based on region, API version, and whether the Service Plan ID is part of the path. The example provided is common but requires verification. ReplaceYOUR_SERVICE_PLAN_ID
within the URL if this structure is correct for your API.PORT
: The port your Express server will listen on.Step 5: Set Up Project Structure
Create the following basic structure:
Create the
src
directory and the subdirectories/files within it.Step 6: Create
.gitignore
Create a
.gitignore
file in the project root to prevent committing sensitive files and unnecessary directories.Step 7: Add Run Scripts to
package.json
Modify the
scripts
section in yourpackage.json
:(Note: The
test
script is a placeholder. It will be updated in Section 13 when testing with Jest is introduced.)npm start
: Runs the application using Node.npm run dev
: Runs the application usingnodemon
, which automatically restarts the server on file changes.2. Implementing Core Functionality (Sinch Service)
This service will encapsulate the logic for interacting with the Sinch MMS API.
File:
src/services/sinchService.js
Explanation:
axios
anddotenv
. Loads environment variables and checks for essential Sinch credentials and the base URL, exiting if missing.sendmms
action based on theSINCH_API_BASE_URL
. Includes a prominent warning to verify this endpoint against official documentation.sendMms
Function:to
,from
,subject
,slides
) and optionalfallbackText
andoptions
.fallbackText
is present if fallback SMS is not explicitly disabled.payload
according to a common Sinch MMS JSON API specification. Includes a warning to verify the payload structure against official documentation. Handles common optional fields and cleans undefined values.axios.post
to send the request.Content-Type
andAuthorization
(Bearer token - verify this method).status: 'success'
andtracking-id
) as 200 OK might not guarantee acceptance. This check might need adjustment based on the specific API response structure.3. Building the API Layer (Routes and Controller)
Now, let's create the Express route and controller to expose our MMS sending functionality.
File:
src/routes/mmsRoutes.js
File:
src/controllers/mmsController.js
Explanation:
mmsRoutes.js
): Defines a single POST route/api/mms/send
that maps to thehandleSendMms
controller function. Includes a commented-out example showing where validation middleware (Section 7) would go.mmsController.js
):sinchService
.SINCH_NUMBER
from environment variables to use as thefrom
number, exiting if not found.to
,subject
,slides
,fallbackText
, and optional fields likeclientReference
,disableFallbackSms
) from the request body (req.body
).express-validator
(Section 7) for robust validation in production.serviceOptions
object.sinchService.sendMms
with the extracted and validated data.tracking-id
).4. Integrating with Necessary Third-Party Services (Express Setup)
Let's tie everything together in our main Express application file.
File:
src/app.js
File:
src/server.js
Explanation:
app.js
:app
).dotenv
early.pino-http
or similar for production),express.json()
for parsing JSON bodies, andexpress.urlencoded()
(optional).mmsRoutes
under the/api/mms
path prefix./health
check endpoint for monitoring.err, req, res, next
) to catch unhandled errors from routes ornext(error)
calls. It logs the error and sends a standardized JSON error response to the client, avoiding leaking stack traces in production.server.js
:app
fromapp.js
.dotenv
again (safe if already loaded) to ensure environment variables are available here too.PORT
andNODE_ENV
from environment variables (with defaults).app.listen
and stores the server instance.SIGTERM
, using the storedserver
instance.5. Implementing Proper Error Handling, Logging, and Retry Mechanisms
We've built foundational error handling. Let's refine logging and consider retries.
Error Handling Strategy (Recap):
sinchService.js
: Catchesaxios
errors during the API call. Logs detailed Sinch API error responses. Throws a new, informativeError
object containing relevant details.mmsController.js
: Uses atry...catch
block to catch errors fromsinchService
. Logs a summary. Responds to the client with an appropriate HTTP status (400 for known client/API errors, 500 for unexpected internal errors) and a JSON error message derived from the caught error.app.js
(Global Handler): Catches any errors missed by route handlers or thrown unexpectedly. Logs the full stack trace (server-side) and sends a generic 500 response to the client.Logging Enhancements (Production):
Standard
console.log
/error
is okay for development, but insufficient for production. Use a dedicated, structured logging library likepino
.npm install pino pino-http
src/utils/logger.js
).pino-http
middleware inapp.js
for automatic request/response logging.console.log
/error
calls throughout your services and controllers withlogger.info()
,logger.warn()
,logger.error()
, etc. Pass error objects directly tologger.error(error, "Optional message")
for stack trace logging.Retry Mechanisms:
Network issues or temporary Sinch API unavailability (e.g., 5xx errors) can occur. Retrying failed requests can improve resilience.
axios-retry
simplifies this.Example using
axios-retry
:npm install axios-retry
src/services/sinchService.js
:(Note: The
axios-retry
example above is illustrative and requires careful integration with the existingsendMms
function, particularly regarding how the URL/endpoint is passed to thesinchApiClient.post
method based on whetherbaseURL
is set on the instance.)