# Sending Messages and Media

Using the SDK, you can craft messages with text and/or media attachments and send them to other participants in your Conversation.

## Send a text Message

If you'd like to send your Message as a one-shot method call, you can use this basic method.

Send a text Message

```js
//send a basic message into the Conversation
await conversation.sendMessage('hello world');
```

```ts
//send a basic message into the Conversation
await conversation.sendMessage('hello world');
```

We also provide a more flexible method that allows you to programmatically build your message. This method is more robust and is typically ideal for most use cases.

### Message Builder

The Message Builder class allows you to build a new text and/or media Message and makes the Message ready to be sent to the Conversation.

When creating the `MessageBuilder` object, you'll set each property of the message individually. For example, you'll set the body and the message attributes separately.

Using Message Builder

```js
/* Using MessageBuilder */
// Message builder. Allows the message to be built and sent via method chaining.

await testConversation.prepareMessage()
    .setBody('Hello!')
    .setAttributes({foo: 'bar'})
    .addMedia(media1)
    .addMedia(media2)
    .build()
    .send();
```

```ts
/* Using MessageBuilder */
// Message builder. Allows the message to be built and sent via method chaining.

await testConversation.prepareMessage()
    .setBody('Hello!')
    .setAttributes({foo: 'bar'})
    .addMedia(media1)
    .addMedia(media2)
    .build()
    .send();
```

## Media Message

You can add photos, videos, and other types of media files to your Conversation. Media is displayed seamlessly between all participating channels.

### Send a Media Message

To add a media Message (i.e. photos, videos) to your Conversation, you'll need to create a Message and add a media file, filename and content type to the Message Builder.

Send Media Message

```js
const file = await fetch("https://v.fastcdn.co/u/ed1a9b17/52533501-0-logo.svg");
const fileBlob = await file.blob();

// Send a media message
const sendMediaOptions = {
    contentType: file.headers.get("Content-Type"),
    filename: "twilio-logo.svg",
    media: fileBlob
};

await conversation.prepareMessage().addMedia(sendMediaOptions);
```

```ts
const file = await fetch("https://v.fastcdn.co/u/ed1a9b17/52533501-0-logo.svg");
const fileBlob = await file.blob();

// Send a media message
const sendMediaOptions: SendMediaOptions = {
    contentType: file.headers.get("Content-Type"),
    filename: "twilio-logo.svg",
    media: fileBlob
};

await conversation.prepareMessage().addMedia(sendMediaOptions);
```

Each SDK accepts media input differently:

For JS, use:

* A `String` or Node.js `Buffer` containing a media byte stream
* A new FormData object containing file information: `filename`, `content-type`, `size`, and all required `FormData` information

For iOS, use:

* an `InputStream`
* an `NSInputStream-compliant` stream
* an `NSData` buffer

For Android, use:

* any `java.io.InputStream-compliant` stream

### Send Multiple Media Messages

> \[!NOTE]
>
> The maximum combined size of attachments is 150 MB.

You can also attach multiple media items to a single message by using the Message Builder.

Send multiple Media Messages

```js
/* Send multiple media */

const file = await fetch("https://v.fastcdn.co/u/ed1a9b17/52533501-0-logo.svg");
const fileBlob = await file.blob();

const mediaFormData = new FormData();
mediaFormData.set("twilio-logo", fileBlob, "twilio-logo.svg");

const sendMediaOptions = {
    contentType: file.headers.get("Content-Type"),
    filename: "twilio-logo.svg",
    media: fileBlob
};

await testConversation.prepareMessage()
    .setBody("Hello!")
    // add multiple media
    .addMedia(mediaFormData)
    .addMedia(sendMediaOptions)
    // ...
    .addMedia(mediaN)
    .build()
    .send();
```

```ts
/* Send multiple media */

import {SendMediaOptions} from "@twilio/conversations";

const file = await fetch("https://v.fastcdn.co/u/ed1a9b17/52533501-0-logo.svg");
const fileBlob: Blob = await file.blob();

const mediaFormData = new FormData();
mediaFormData.set("twilio-logo", fileBlob, "twilio-logo.svg");

const sendMediaOptions: SendMediaOptions = {
    contentType: file.headers.get("Content-Type"),
    filename: "twilio-logo.svg",
    media: fileBlob
};

await testConversation.prepareMessage()
    .setBody("Hello!")
    // add multiple media
    .addMedia(mediaFormData)
    .addMedia(sendMediaOptions)
    // ...
    .addMedia(mediaN)
    .build()
    .send();
```

### Retrieve Media Message Content

You can get a short-lived, temporary URL to download the media content in a Conversation.

If a message has more than one attachment, an array of media Messages can be retrieved, but it has to match the specific category of media.

> \[!NOTE]
>
> `media` is currently the only category available

You can use your preferred method to retrieve the content from the temporary URL and render it in your UI.

Retrieve Media Message

```js
/* Check and update Media samples */

// Return all media attachments, without temporary urls
const media = message.attachedMedia;

// Return a (possibly empty) array of media matching a specific set of categories. Allowed category is so far only 'media'
const categorizedMedia = await message.getMediaByCategory(["media"]);

//Get a temporary URL for the first media returned by the previous method
const mediaUrl = await categorizedMedia[0].getContentTemporaryUrl();
```

```ts
/* Check and update Media samples */
import {Media, SendMediaOptions} from "@twilio/conversations";

// Return all media attachments, without temporary urls
const media: Media[] = message.attachedMedia;

// Return a (possibly empty) array of media matching a specific set of categories. Allowed category is so far only 'media'
const categorizedMedia: Media[] = await message.getMediaByCategory(["media"]);

const mediaUrl: string = await categorizedMedia[0].getContentTemporaryUrl();
```

### Media Limits

Conversations is a cross-channel messaging product, so each channel has a different set of limitations about incoming media files. Please refer to the[Media Limits documentation](/docs/conversations/conversations-limits#media-limits) for channel-specific information and supported file types.

### Security

Media content is encrypted and can not be downloaded directly. When required, only authenticated users can generate temporary/expiring URLs to download the media content. The temporary URLs are valid for 300 seconds, after which a new temporary URL must be requested.

## What's Next?

Let's learn other features in Twilio Conversations:

* Explore the [User Reachability Indicator](/docs/conversations/user-reachability-indicator) guide
* Learn [How to Receive and Send Typing Indicators](/docs/conversations/typing-indicator)