---
title: Getting Started with Zavu's Messaging API
description: Get started with Zavu's unified messaging API in under 10 minutes. Send SMS, WhatsApp, and Email messages with a single integration and simple code.
date: 2025-01-15
author: Jennifer Villalobos
locale: en
source: https://www.zavu.dev/en/blog/getting-started-with-zavu-api
tags: Tutorial, API, Getting Started
---

# Getting Started with Zavu's Messaging API

Zavu provides a unified API that lets you send messages across multiple channels—SMS, WhatsApp, and Email—with a single integration. In this guide, we'll walk through the basic setup and send your first message.

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:
- A Zavu account with API credentials
- Node.js 18+ or Bun installed
- Basic knowledge of JavaScript/TypeScript

## Installation

Install the Zavu SDK using your preferred package manager:

```bash
npm install @zavudev/sdk
```

Or with bun:

```bash
bun add @zavudev/sdk
```

## Initialize the Client

Create a new file and initialize the Zavu client with your API key:

```typescript
import Zavudev from '@zavudev/sdk';

const client = new Zavudev({
  apiKey: process.env.ZAVUDEV_API_KEY,
});
```

## Sending Your First Message

Now let's send a simple SMS message:

```typescript
async function sendWelcomeMessage() {
  try {
    const response = await client.messages.send({
      to: '+1234567890',
      text: 'Welcome to Zavu!',
      channel: 'sms',
    });

    console.log('Message ID:', response.message.id);
    console.log('Status:', response.message.status);
    console.log('Channel:', response.message.channel);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Failed to send message:', error);
  }
}

sendWelcomeMessage();
```

## Sending WhatsApp Messages

Send messages via WhatsApp (within 24h conversation window):

```typescript
const response = await client.messages.send({
  to: '+1234567890',
  text: 'Your order has been shipped!',
  channel: 'whatsapp',
});

console.log('WhatsApp message sent:', response.message.id);
```

## Adding Metadata

Track messages with custom metadata:

```typescript
const response = await client.messages.send({
  to: '+1234567890',
  text: 'Your verification code is 123456',
  channel: 'sms',
  metadata: {
    orderId: 'ORD-12345',
    userId: 'user_abc',
  },
});
```

## Retrieving a Message

Get details about a sent message:

```typescript
const response = await client.messages.retrieve('message_id_here');

console.log('Message details:', {
  id: response.message.id,
  to: response.message.to,
  status: response.message.status,
  channel: response.message.channel,
  createdAt: response.message.createdAt,
});
```

## Listing Messages

List messages with filtering and pagination:

```typescript
// Get a page of messages
const page = await client.messages.list({
  limit: 10,
  channel: 'sms',
  status: 'delivered',
});

console.log('Messages:', page.items);

// Check for more pages
if (page.hasNextPage()) {
  const nextPage = await page.getNextPage();
  console.log('Next page:', nextPage.items);
}
```

## Async Iteration

Iterate through all messages using async iterators:

```typescript
for await (const message of client.messages.list({ limit: 5 })) {
  console.log('Message:', message.id, message.status);
}
```

## Error Handling

Handle API errors gracefully:

```typescript
import Zavudev from '@zavudev/sdk';

try {
  const response = await client.messages.send({
    to: '+1234567890',
    text: 'Hello!',
  });
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof Zavudev.APIError) {
    console.error('API Error:', error.status, error.message);
  } else {
    throw error;
  }
}
```

## Next Steps

Now that you've sent your first message, explore these resources:

- **[API Reference](https://docs.zavu.dev/api-reference/overview)**: Complete API documentation
- **Templates**: Create reusable WhatsApp templates
- **Broadcasts**: Send messages to multiple recipients
- **Contacts**: Manage your contact database

Check out our [documentation](https://docs.zavu.dev) for more examples.

**Need help getting started?** [Contact us](/contact-us) or join our [Discord community](https://discord.gg/ZxE8DYkveh) for support and updates.