> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.surge.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Send Your First Message

> Send your first SMS in under five minutes using Surge's demo number. No registration or phone number purchase required.

Send an SMS in under five minutes using Surge's demo number. No carrier registration, no phone number purchase required.

## Prerequisites

* **Surge account**: Sign up at [hq.surge.app](https://hq.surge.app).
* **API key**: Find it under **API Keys** in the left sidebar of the dashboard.
* **Account ID**: Shown at the top of the dashboard, format `acct_01j...`.
* **A phone number you can receive texts on**: Used as the `to` value in your first send.

## 1. Send a message

Every outbound message goes through the same endpoint. Replace the account ID, API key, and `to` number with your own values.

<CodeGroup>
  ```python Python theme={null}
  from surge import Surge

  surge = Surge()  # uses SURGE_API_KEY env var

  message = surge.messages.create(
      account_id="{account_id}",
      to="+18015551234",
      body="Hello from Surge!",
  )

  print(message.id)
  ```

  ```typescript TypeScript theme={null}
  import Surge from "@surgeapi/node";

  const surge = new Surge(); // uses SURGE_API_KEY env var

  const message = await surge.messages.create("{account_id}", {
    to: "+18015551234",
    body: "Hello from Surge!",
  });

  console.log(message.id);
  ```

  ```ruby Ruby theme={null}
  require "surge_api"

  surge = SurgeAPI::Client.new # uses SURGE_API_KEY env var

  message = surge.messages.create(
    "{account_id}",
    to: "+18015551234",
    body: "Hello from Surge!"
  )

  puts message.id
  ```

  ```elixir Elixir theme={null}
  client = Surge.Client.new("YOUR_API_KEY")

  {:ok, message} = Surge.Messages.create(
    client,
    "{account_id}",
    %{to: "+18015551234", body: "Hello from Surge!"}
  )

  IO.puts(message.id)
  ```

  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl -X POST https://api.surge.app/accounts/{account_id}/messages \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{
      "to": "+18015551234",
      "body": "Hello from Surge!"
    }'
  ```
</CodeGroup>

You don't need a `from` number. New accounts send from a demo number automatically.

## 2. Check the response

A successful request returns the message object:

```json theme={null}
{
  "id": "msg_01kqbhwra9egg8sdcsp9veg391",
  "body": "Hello from Surge!",
  "blast_id": null,
  "attachments": [],
  "metadata": {},
  "conversation": {
    "id": "cnv_01kpc9b1jgepxazwjya3scxse4",
    "contact": {
      "id": "ctc_01kpc9b1jefg28pfpvf96t9ce6",
      "phone_number": "+18015551234",
      "first_name": null,
      "last_name": null,
      "email": null,
      "metadata": {}
    },
    "phone_number": {
      "id": "pn_01kpc9b1jaeaht0an56f6r4p7v",
      "name": "Demo phone number",
      "type": "demo",
      "number": "+13854252553"
    }
  }
}
```

Within a few seconds, the phone number you specified in `to` receives a text. If nothing arrives after 60 seconds, check that the number is in E.164 format: starting with `+` and country code, like `+18015551234`.

## 3. Watch for the demo limit

The demo number has a cap of 25 outbound messages per account. When you hit the limit, the API returns a `403` with:

```json theme={null}
{
  "error": {
    "type": "demo_message_limit",
    "message": "Demo messaging limit has been reached."
  }
}
```

## Next steps

Two things unlock production sending: register your business and purchase a phone number. Pick an SDK while you wait for review to clear.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Register your business" icon="id-card" href="./registration/index">
    Get carrier approval for your brand and campaign.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pick an SDK" icon="cubes" href="./sdks/index">
    Pagination, error handling, and webhook signature verification out of the box.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Purchase a phone number" icon="phone" href="./phone-numbers/purchasing">
    Buy a local or toll-free number and let Surge attach it to your campaign.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Receive webhooks" icon="bell" href="./receiving/index">
    Verify signatures and handle inbound messages, deliveries, and opt-outs.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>