> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ahasend.com/docs/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Sending emails in Node.js > Learn how to send emails using AhaSend SMTP with Node.js and Nodemailer, the most popular email library for Node.js # Sending Emails with SMTP in Node.js Send emails through AhaSend's SMTP servers using Node.js with Nodemailer, the most popular and feature-rich email library for Node.js. This guide covers everything from basic setup to advanced features like attachments and custom headers. **Why Nodemailer?** Node.js doesn't have built-in SMTP support, but Nodemailer provides a powerful, well-maintained solution with extensive features including HTML emails, attachments, embedded images, and robust error handling. ## Prerequisites Before you begin, ensure you have: * **Node.js installed** on your system ([Download Node.js](https://nodejs.org/)) * **npm** or **yarn** package manager * Basic knowledge of JavaScript and Node.js * **Domain verified** in your AhaSend account * **SMTP credentials** created (username and password) * Access to your AhaSend dashboard for credential management **Need SMTP Credentials?** If you haven't created SMTP credentials yet, check out our [SMTP Credentials guide](/smtp/credentials) for step-by-step instructions. ## Installation Install Nodemailer in your Node.js project: ```bash npm theme={null} npm install nodemailer ``` ```bash yarn theme={null} yarn add nodemailer ``` ```bash pnpm theme={null} pnpm add nodemailer ``` For TypeScript projects, also install type definitions: ```bash TypeScript Support theme={null} npm install --save-dev @types/nodemailer ``` ## Connection Settings Use these settings for all Nodemailer configurations with AhaSend: **Host:** `send.ahasend.com`
**Ports:** 587 (recommended), 25, 2525
**Security:** STARTTLS (requireTLS: true)
**Authentication:** Required **Host:** `send-us.ahasend.com`
**Ports:** 587 (recommended), 25, 2525
**Security:** STARTTLS (requireTLS: true)
**Authentication:** Required ## Basic Email Examples ```javascript Plain Text Email theme={null} const nodemailer = require('nodemailer'); // Create transporter const transporter = nodemailer.createTransporter({ host: 'send.ahasend.com', port: 587, requireTLS: true, // Force TLS auth: { user: 'YOUR_SMTP_USERNAME', pass: 'YOUR_SMTP_PASSWORD' } }); // Email options const mailOptions = { from: '"Your Company" ', to: 'user@example.com', subject: 'Welcome to our platform!', text: 'Thanks for signing up. We\'re excited to have you!' }; // Send email transporter.sendMail(mailOptions, (error, info) => { if (error) { return console.log('Error:', error); } console.log('Email sent successfully!'); console.log('Message ID:', info.messageId); }); ``` ```javascript HTML Email theme={null} const nodemailer = require('nodemailer'); const transporter = nodemailer.createTransporter({ host: 'send.ahasend.com', port: 587, requireTLS: true, auth: { user: 'YOUR_SMTP_USERNAME', pass: 'YOUR_SMTP_PASSWORD' } }); const mailOptions = { from: '"Your Company" ', to: 'user@example.com', subject: 'Welcome to our platform!', html: `

Welcome!

Thanks for signing up. We're excited to have you!

Get Started

`, text: 'Welcome! Thanks for signing up. Visit https://yourdomain.com/get-started to get started.' // Fallback }; transporter.sendMail(mailOptions, (error, info) => { if (error) { return console.log('Error:', error); } console.log('HTML email sent successfully!'); console.log('Message ID:', info.messageId); }); ``` ```javascript With Attachments theme={null} const nodemailer = require('nodemailer'); const transporter = nodemailer.createTransporter({ host: 'send.ahasend.com', port: 587, requireTLS: true, auth: { user: 'YOUR_SMTP_USERNAME', pass: 'YOUR_SMTP_PASSWORD' } }); const mailOptions = { from: '"Your Company" ', to: 'user@example.com', subject: 'Your Invoice is Ready', html: `

Invoice Attached

Please find your invoice attached to this email.

`, attachments: [ { filename: 'invoice.pdf', path: '/path/to/invoice.pdf' }, { filename: 'terms.pdf', path: '/path/to/terms.pdf' } ] }; transporter.sendMail(mailOptions, (error, info) => { if (error) { return console.log('Error:', error); } console.log('Email with attachments sent successfully!'); console.log('Message ID:', info.messageId); }); ``` **Pro Tip:** Use [connection pooling](https://nodemailer.com/smtp/pooled/) for bulk emails, always provide both HTML and text versions, and implement proper error handling with retry logic. Start with sandbox mode during development and use environment variables for credentials. ## Testing with Sandbox Mode Use sandbox mode to safely test your Node.js email integration: ```javascript Sandbox Test theme={null} const nodemailer = require('nodemailer'); const transporter = nodemailer.createTransporter({ host: 'send.ahasend.com', port: 587, requireTLS: true, auth: { user: 'YOUR_SMTP_USERNAME', pass: 'YOUR_SMTP_PASSWORD' } }); const mailOptions = { from: '"Test Sender" ', to: 'test@example.com', subject: 'Sandbox Test Email', headers: { 'AhaSend-Sandbox': 'true', 'AhaSend-Sandbox-Result': 'deliver' }, text: 'This email is sent in sandbox mode for testing.' }; transporter.sendMail(mailOptions, (error, info) => { if (error) { return console.log('Error:', error); } console.log('Sandbox email sent successfully!'); console.log('Message ID:', info.messageId); }); ``` ```javascript Sandbox Bounce Test theme={null} const nodemailer = require('nodemailer'); const transporter = nodemailer.createTransporter({ host: 'send.ahasend.com', port: 587, requireTLS: true, auth: { user: 'YOUR_SMTP_USERNAME', pass: 'YOUR_SMTP_PASSWORD' } }); const mailOptions = { from: '"Test Sender" ', to: 'test@example.com', subject: 'Sandbox Bounce Test', headers: { 'AhaSend-Sandbox': 'true', 'AhaSend-Sandbox-Result': 'bounce' }, html: `

Bounce Test

This email simulates a bounce for webhook testing.

` }; transporter.sendMail(mailOptions, (error, info) => { if (error) { return console.log('Error:', error); } console.log('Sandbox bounce test sent - check webhooks!'); console.log('Message ID:', info.messageId); }); ``` ```javascript Async/Await Pattern theme={null} const nodemailer = require('nodemailer'); async function sendSandboxEmail() { const transporter = nodemailer.createTransporter({ host: 'send.ahasend.com', port: 587, requireTLS: true, auth: { user: 'YOUR_SMTP_USERNAME', pass: 'YOUR_SMTP_PASSWORD' } }); const mailOptions = { from: '"Test Sender" ', to: 'test@example.com', subject: 'Async Sandbox Test', headers: { 'AhaSend-Sandbox': 'true', 'AhaSend-Sandbox-Result': 'deliver' }, text: 'Testing with async/await pattern.' }; try { const info = await transporter.sendMail(mailOptions); console.log('Async sandbox email sent successfully!'); console.log('Message ID:', info.messageId); return info; } catch (error) { console.error('Failed to send sandbox email:', error); throw error; } } sendSandboxEmail(); ``` **Sandbox Benefits:** Emails sent in sandbox mode are free, trigger webhooks normally, and never actually deliver to recipients - perfect for development and testing. ## Environment Variables & Best Practices ### Using Environment Variables ```javascript Nodemailer with environment variables theme={null} const nodemailer = require('nodemailer'); require('dotenv').config(); // npm install dotenv const transporter = nodemailer.createTransporter({ host: process.env.SMTP_HOST || 'send.ahasend.com', port: parseInt(process.env.SMTP_PORT) || 587, requireTLS: true, auth: { user: process.env.SMTP_USERNAME, pass: process.env.SMTP_PASSWORD } }); // Validate required environment variables if (!process.env.SMTP_USERNAME || !process.env.SMTP_PASSWORD) { console.error('Missing required environment variables'); console.error('Set: SMTP_USERNAME, SMTP_PASSWORD'); process.exit(1); } const mailOptions = { from: `"${process.env.FROM_NAME}" <${process.env.FROM_EMAIL}>`, to: 'user@example.com', subject: 'Environment Test', text: 'This email uses environment variables for configuration.' }; transporter.sendMail(mailOptions, (error, info) => { if (error) { return console.log('Error:', error); } console.log('Email sent using environment variables!'); }); ``` ```bash .env configuration theme={null} # SMTP Configuration SMTP_HOST=send.ahasend.com SMTP_PORT=587 SMTP_USERNAME=your_smtp_username SMTP_PASSWORD=your_smtp_password # Email Configuration FROM_NAME=Your Company FROM_EMAIL=hello@yourdomain.com ``` ## Resources Official Nodemailer documentation and examples Get help from our engineering team