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Understanding OTPs What are SMS Verification Codes (OTPs)?

SMS one-time passcodes (OTPs), or verification codes, are a critical tool for securing user accounts and verifying phone numbers.

They provide a reliable method for authentication during login, before sensitive actions, and for ongoing notifications like appointment reminders. This helps prevent bots, ensures deliverability, and builds trust.

Before You Begin Prerequisites for Sending One-Time Passcodes

To send OTPs with Twilio Verify, you'll need a Twilio account (or sign in if you already have one) and a Verify Service, which you can create in the Twilio console. The Service Name will appear in the SMS body, but it is editable later.

Make sure to copy your Service SID (starts with VA).

Sending the Code How to Send an SMS OTP

Copy the provided code snippet for the endpoint and replace the placeholders with your Verify Service SID, your phone number for testing, and your Twilio Account SID and Auth Token (located on the main page of the Console).

Execute the request to receive an SMS OTP on your mobile device.

Verification Checking the SMS OTP

Verify makes it easy to both send and check the OTP. Copy the code for the endpoint and replace the placeholders with your Verify Service SID, the phone number you used in the previous step, the code you received, and your Twilio Account SID and Auth Token.

Execute the request; you should see a successful verification status with the correct OTP. The status will remain "pending" if you provide an incorrect OTP.

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Twilio Verify simplifies the process of implementing secure SMS verification, making it easy to protect your users and applications.

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Quick Deployment Quick Deploy a Twilio Verify Application

Log in to Twilio and go to Twilio's Code Exchange for the One-Time Passcode verification project. Paste in your Verify Service SID and click "Deploy my application."

After a few seconds, you should see a button to launch the live application. Click that to go to your new Verify application, enter your phone number, and hit to test it out. Now, you have a sample application to share and play around with!

Application Integration How to Use Verify OTPs in Your Application

These examples give you the following building blocks: International telephone input, sending an OTP, and checking an OTP.

You could use this as the basis to send and check verifications in your own application. The email channel requires a smidge more setup but all of the instructions are outlined in the documentation.