Send an Email
Learn how to send a standard email using the API.
Introducing Standard Email
Note
There are two ways to send emails through the API which include using the Standard Email (/email/send) endpoint or using the MIME Email (/email/mime) endpoint.
This basic guide uses the Standard Email option.
With the /email/send endpoint, you pass us all of the components of an email, such as the sender, body and recipient as a JSON Object. We then create and send the email. The endpoint also allows you to make use of email templates - our Get Started with Templates guide is a great place to start.
The /email/send endpoint accepts 13 parameters with 3 being required (marked with *) - sender (string), to (array of strings) and subject (string). All parameters are:
Three required parameters
Sender (string), To (array of strings) and Subject (string) are the required parameters. Marked below with *.
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| sender* | string | The email address to send from |
| to* | array of strings | An array of email addresses (up to 100) to send to |
| cc | array of strings | An array of email addresses (up to 100) to cc |
| bcc | array of strings | An array of email addresses (up to 100) to bcc |
| subject* | string | The subject of the email to be sent |
| html_body | string | An HTML encoded email body |
| text_body | string | A plain text email body |
| custom_headers | array of objects | An array of custom header objects to be applied to the email |
| attachments | array of objects | An array of attachment objects to be attached to the email |
| inlines | array of objects | An array of images to be inlined into the email |
| template_id | string | The ID of the template you wish to use |
| template_data | json | When a template_id is provided, include the pass-through values in the format {"variable1": "value1", "variable2": "value2"} |
Craft a simple message
In this example, we'll POST to the https://api.smtp2go.com/v3/email/send endpoint. For our first email, we'll use the three required parameters, along with the text_body parameter.
The request structure
The HTTP POST request is made up of two parts, the request headers and the request body containing the email message payload in JSON.
The request headers include:
- Endpoint URL (https://api.smtp2go.com/v3/email/send).
- Content type (application/json).
- API Key for authentication (via the X-Smtp2go-Api-Key header). Alternatively, you could pass the API Key in the request data ("api_key": "YourAPIKeyHere").
Example:
curl --request POST \
--url https://api.smtp2go.com/v3/email/send \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--header 'X-Smtp2go-Api-Key: api-xxxx YOUR API KEY xxxx' \
--header 'accept: application/json' \
The request body contains the message payload as a JSON Object.
Example:
--data '
{
"sender": "[email protected]",
"to": [
"[email protected]"
],
"subject": "My First Email",
"text_body": "Hello from the other side.",
}
The full request
Include the headers covered in the example below. Remember to enter your unique API Key, set the sender/from address, recipient/to address and enter some text in the text_body parameter.
Though this guide uses cURL for examples, a wide number of options from C++, to Javascript, Node and more can be accessed throughout our API Reference documentation.
Ensure your "sender" address is valid
Enter an email address that your account is authorised to send from (an email address from a verified sender). Check out the Getting Started with the API guide for details.
curl --request POST \
--url https://api.smtp2go.com/v3/email/send \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--header 'X-Smtp2go-Api-Key: api-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx' \
--header 'accept: application/json' \
--data '
{
"sender": "[email protected]",
"to": [
"[email protected]"
],
"subject": "My First Email",
"text_body": "Hello from the other side."
}
'
Responses
Success!
This will be indicated by a 200 OK response
Similar to the below:
{
"request_id": "aa253464-0bd0-467a-b24b-6159dcd7be60",
"data": {
"succeeded": 1,
"failed": 0,
"failures": [],
"email_id": "1er8bV-6Tw0Mi-7h"
}
}
The email_id can be logged into your system and used when searching for the email.
A 400 response is encountered if the request fails and will include an explanation of the error. Similar to:
{
"request_id": "22e5acba-43bf-11e6-ae42-408d5cce2644",
"data": {
"error_code": "E_ApiResponseCodes.ENDPOINT_PERMISSION_DENIED",
"error": "You do not have permission to access this API endpoint"
}
}
Take it further
Once you are sending a simple text email successfully, you can try using the html_body parameter to send emails with HTML content or add attachments using the attachments parameter.
To make use of email templates, view our “Get Started With Templates” page using the link below.
Updated 4 months ago