How to call simple Node.js script from Javascript?

Question

I'm trying to create a basic web application with SMS capability. However, I'm a bit stumped. I'm using Twilio's SMS service, but it utilizes Node.js. Obviously, you can run it with a terminal command such as "node send_text.js", but I'm trying to make the call to the send_text.js file without using the terminal command.

I understand that you can use Express to host your web application, but I'm not too sure how you would go about calling a Node.js file from javascript.

The following is the send_text.js file I would like to call from Javascript.

var twilio = require('twilio');

// Find your account sid and auth token in your Twilio account Console.
var client = new twilio('TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID', 'TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN');

// Send the text message.
client.messages.create({
  to: 'YOUR_NUMBER',
  from: 'YOUR_TWILIO_NUMBER',
  body: 'Hello from Twilio!'
});

Essentially, I'll detect a change in data using Javascript, and when the change is detected, call the send_text.js file to send a text to the user.

EDIT:

I've tried my own basic implementation of using require, but it doesn't seem to work properly.

Here's what I have in my index.html file:

<script type="text/javascript" src="send_text.js"></script>
<input type="button" onclick="sendText()" value="run external javascript">

And when I try to call the send_text.js, which has the following, I do not get any text message sent:

function sendText()
{
var twilio = require('twilio');

// Find your account sid and auth token in your Twilio account Console.
var client = new twilio('TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID', 'TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN');

// Send the text message.
client.messages.create({
  to: 'YOUR_NUMBER',
  from: 'YOUR_TWILIO_NUMBER',
  body: 'Hello from Twilio!'
});
}

However, the code does work if send_text.js has the following:

function sendText()
{
    alert("Hello world")
}

Answer 1

You can use the child process in Nodejs to call a js script from another js file using childProcess.fork(filepath); according to the question I understood. should look something like this

let childProcess = require('child_process');
childProcess.fork('./send_text.js);

for more information see

https://nodejs.org/api/child_process.html

Answer 2

The code you're showing us is some example source code. You can copy and paste the relevant parts directly into your Express app.

Answer 3

Twilio developer evangelist here.

You could use a tool like Netlify--here's a tutorial on how to send text messages from a static website using Twilio, Netlify, and Serverless Functions .

You could also use Twilio's serverless environment for web apps called Twilio Functions -- here's a tutorial on that using the Twilio CLI as well.

Similarly, you couldsend a SMS from a Gatsby website with Serverless Functions and React.js , or use an AWS Lambda Function to send a SMS .