# Send Email

This automation step triggers a [Template](/guides/learn-dashboard-templates-introduction) email to be sent to the contact.

## How it works

:::::tabs
:::tab{title="Using the dashboard"}
After adding a [trigger](/guides/learn-dashboard-automations-trigger), create a new step to **Send an email**.

![Add Send Email Action](../img/site-assets/mintcdn.com/resend/ePnINhGLisYSJsWT/images/automations-steps-email-1o6dm1j.png)

Select a published template, then configure the sender address.

![Send Email Action Sender Settings](../img/site-assets/mintcdn.com/resend/3_DkZ6MFMzztlC_E/images/automations-steps-email-settings-1s9u727.png)

_The subject always comes from the Template. To send a different subject, set `subject` when creating the step via the [API](#configuration)._
:::

::::tab{title="Using the API"}
Add a `send_email` step to your Automation's `steps` array.

:::code-group
```ts Node.js {13-21} theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vesper"}}
import { Resend } from 'resend';

const resend = new Resend('re_xxxxxxxxx');

const { data, error } = await resend.automations.create({
  name: 'Welcome series',
  steps: [
    {
      key: 'start',
      type: 'trigger',
      config: { eventName: 'user.created' },
    },
    {
      key: 'welcome',
      type: 'send_email',
      config: {
        template: {
          id: '044db673-fff6-420f-a566-f6aba05d60e7',
        },
      },
    },
  ],
  connections: [{ from: 'start', to: 'welcome' }],
});
```

```php PHP {11-19} theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vesper"}}
$resend = Resend::client('re_xxxxxxxxx');

$resend->automations->create([
  'name' => 'Welcome series',
  'steps' => [
    [
      'key' => 'start',
      'type' => 'trigger',
      'config' => ['event_name' => 'user.created'],
    ],
    [
      'key' => 'welcome',
      'type' => 'send_email',
      'config' => [
        'template' => [
          'id' => '044db673-fff6-420f-a566-f6aba05d60e7',
        ],
      ],
    ],
  ],
  'connections' => [['from' => 'start', 'to' => 'welcome']],
]);
```

```python Python {13-21} theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vesper"}}
import resend

resend.api_key = "re_xxxxxxxxx"

params: resend.Automations.CreateParams = {
  "name": "Welcome series",
  "steps": [
    {
      "key": "start",
      "type": "trigger",
      "config": {"event_name": "user.created"},
    },
    {
      "key": "welcome",
      "type": "send_email",
      "config": {
        "template": {
          "id": "044db673-fff6-420f-a566-f6aba05d60e7",
        },
      },
    },
  ],
  "connections": [{"from": "start", "to": "welcome"}],
}

resend.Automations.create(params)
```

```ruby Ruby {13-21} theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vesper"}}
require "resend"

Resend.api_key = "re_xxxxxxxxx"

params = {
  name: "Welcome series",
  steps: [
    {
      key: "start",
      type: "trigger",
      config: { event_name: "user.created" },
    },
    {
      key: "welcome",
      type: "send_email",
      config: {
        template: {
          id: "044db673-fff6-420f-a566-f6aba05d60e7",
        },
      },
    },
  ],
  connections: [{ from: "start", to: "welcome" }],
}

Resend::Automations.create(params)
```

```go Go {18-26} theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vesper"}}
package main

import "github.com/resend/resend-go/v4"

func main() {
	client := resend.NewClient("re_xxxxxxxxx")

	params := &resend.CreateAutomationRequest{
		Name: "Welcome series",
		Steps: []resend.AutomationStep{
			{
				Key:  "start",
				Type: resend.AutomationStepTypeTrigger,
				Config: map[string]any{
					"event_name": "user.created",
				},
			},
			{
				Key:  "welcome",
				Type: resend.AutomationStepTypeSendEmail,
				Config: map[string]any{
					"template": map[string]any{
						"id": "044db673-fff6-420f-a566-f6aba05d60e7",
					},
				},
			},
		},
		Connections: []resend.AutomationConnection{
			{From: "start", To: "welcome"},
		},
	}

	client.Automations.Create(params)
}
```

```rust Rust {22-27} theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vesper"}}
use resend_rs::{
  types::{
    AutomationStatus, AutomationTemplate, Connection, CreateAutomationOptions, SendEmailStepConfig,
    Step, TriggerStepConfig,
  },
  Resend, Result,
};

#[tokio::main]
async fn main() -> Result<()> {
  let resend = Resend::new("re_xxxxxxxxx");

  let opts = CreateAutomationOptions {
    name: "Welcome series".to_owned(),
    steps: vec![
      Step::Trigger {
        key: "start".to_owned(),
        config: TriggerStepConfig {
          event_name: "user.created".to_owned(),
        },
      },
      Step::SendEmail {
        key: "welcome".to_owned(),
        config: SendEmailStepConfig::new(AutomationTemplate::new(
          "044db673-fff6-420f-a566-f6aba05d60e7",
        )),
      },
    ],
    connections: vec![Connection::new("start", "welcome")],
    status: AutomationStatus::Disabled,
  };
  let _automation = resend.automations.create(opts).await?;

  Ok(())
}
```

```java Java {21-29} theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vesper"}}
import com.resend.*;
import com.resend.core.exception.ResendException;
import com.resend.services.automations.model.AutomationConnection;
import com.resend.services.automations.model.AutomationStep;
import com.resend.services.automations.model.CreateAutomationOptions;
import com.resend.services.automations.model.CreateAutomationResponseSuccess;
import java.util.Map;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws ResendException {
        Resend resend = new Resend("re_xxxxxxxxx");

        CreateAutomationOptions options = CreateAutomationOptions.builder()
                .name("Welcome series")
                .steps(
                    AutomationStep.trigger("start")
                        .eventName("user.created")
                        .build(),
                    AutomationStep.sendEmail("welcome")
                        .template("044db673-fff6-420f-a566-f6aba05d60e7")
                        .templateVariable("name", Map.of("var", "event.firstName"))
                        .build()
                )
                .connections(
                    AutomationConnection.builder()
                        .from("start")
                        .to("welcome")
                        .build()
                )
                .build();

        CreateAutomationResponseSuccess data = resend.automations().create(options);
    }
}
```

```csharp .NET {7-14,22} theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vesper"}}
using Resend;
using System.Text.Json;

IResend resend = ResendClient.Create( "re_xxxxxxxxx" );

var startConfig = JsonSerializer.SerializeToElement( new { event_name = "user.created" } );
var welcomeConfig = JsonSerializer.SerializeToElement( new
{
    template = new
    {
        id = "044db673-fff6-420f-a566-f6aba05d60e7",
        variables = new { name = new { @var = "event.firstName" } },
    },
    subject = "Welcome to Acme!",
    from = "Acme <hello@example.com>",
    reply_to = "support@example.com",
} );

var resp = await resend.AutomationCreateAsync( new AutomationCreateData()
{
    Name = "Welcome series",
    Steps = new List<AutomationStepData>
    {
        new AutomationStepData { Ref = "start", Type = "trigger", Config = startConfig },
        new AutomationStepData { Ref = "welcome", Type = "send_email", Config = welcomeConfig },
    },
    Connections = new List<AutomationEdge>
    {
        new AutomationEdge { From = "start", To = "welcome", EdgeType = "default" },
    },
} );
```

```bash cURL {10-17} theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vesper"}}
curl -X POST 'https://api.resend.com/automations' \
     -H 'Authorization: Bearer re_xxxxxxxxx' \
     -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
     -d '{
  "name": "Welcome series",
  "steps": [{
    "key": "start",
    "type": "trigger",
    "config": { "event_name": "user.created" }
  }, {
    "key": "welcome",
    "type": "send_email",
    "config": {
      "template": {
        "id": "044db673-fff6-420f-a566-f6aba05d60e7"
      }
    }
  }],
  "connections": [
    { "from": "start", "to": "welcome" }
  ]
}'
```

```bash CLI theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vesper"}}
resend automations create --name "Welcome series" --file ./automation.json
```
:::
::::
:::::

:::callout{intent="note"}
Only `published` templates are available to be used in an Automation.
:::

## Template variables

Use the `variables` field to pass data into your template. Each variable value can be a dynamic reference or a static string.

| Type              | Format                                          | Description                                                                                                            |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Event data        | `{ "var": "event.<field>" }`                    | Resolves a field from the triggering event's payload.                                                                  |
| Contact data      | `{ "var": "contact.<field>" }`                  | Resolves a field from the contact record.                                                                              |
| Waited event data | `{ "var": "wait_events.<event_name>.<field>" }` | Resolves a field from a preceding [wait for event](/guides/learn-dashboard-automations-wait-for-event) step's payload. |
| Static value      | `"<string>"`                                    | Passed as-is to the template.                                                                                          |

```json {7-14} theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vesper"}}
{
  "key": "welcome",
  "type": "send_email",
  "config": {
    "template": {
      "id": "044db673-fff6-420f-a566-f6aba05d60e7",
      "variables": {
        "firstName": { "var": "event.firstName" },
        "orderNumber": { "var": "event.orderId" },
        "total": { "var": "event.amount" },
        "company": { "var": "contact.properties.company" },
        "feedback": { "var": "wait_events.feedback.received.response" },
        "supportEmail": "help@example.com"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

:::callout{intent="note"}
If the same branch has multiple [wait for
event](/guides/learn-dashboard-automations-wait-for-event) steps with the same key, the
resolved data will come from the last event received before the current step.
:::

Template variables must be present in your referenced template and the key names must match exactly with the template variable names.

For more help working with variables, see the [Template documentation](/guides/learn-dashboard-templates-template-variables).

## Unsubscribe behavior

Resend does not automatically add an unsubscribe link to emails sent from a `send_email` step. To let contacts opt out, add `{{{RESEND_UNSUBSCRIBE_URL}}}` to the [Template](/guides/learn-dashboard-templates-introduction) used by the step.

:::callout{intent="note"}
`{{{RESEND_UNSUBSCRIBE_URL}}}` must be added to the Template itself, not the step's `config`. If the Template doesn't include this variable, contacts have no way to unsubscribe from within the email.
:::

See [when to use an unsubscribe link](/guides/sending-should-i-add-an-unsubscribe-link) to decide whether your Automation emails need one.

## Configuration

- `config.template` (object, required) — The published template to send. Provide `id` and optionally `variables`.

:::accordion{title="properties"}
* `config.template.id` (string, required) — The ID or alias of the template to send.

* `config.template.variables` (object) — A key-value map of template variables. Each value can be a static string or a variable reference object (`{ "var": "event.fieldName" }`) that resolves dynamically from the `event.*`, `contact.*`, or `wait_events.*` namespaces.
:::

- `config.from` (string) — The sender email address.

If provided, this value will override the template's default value.

- `config.subject` (string) — The email subject line.

If provided, this value will override the template's default value.

- `config.reply_to` (string) — Reply-to email address.

If provided, this value will override the template's default value.

```json theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vesper"}}
{
  "key": "welcome",
  "type": "send_email",
  "config": {
    "template": {
      "id": "062f8ef4-fbfa-44f1-b5e0-ff8e1e8ffa96",
      "variables": {
        "name": { "var": "event.firstName" }
      }
    },
    "from": "hello@example.com",
    "subject": "Welcome!",
    "reply_to": "support@example.com"
  }
}
```

## Related pages

- [Steps](./learn-dashboard-automations-steps.md)
- [Trigger](./learn-dashboard-automations-trigger.md)
- [Condition](./learn-dashboard-automations-condition.md)
- [Delay](./learn-dashboard-automations-delay.md)
- [Wait for Event](./learn-dashboard-automations-wait-for-event.md)
- [Add to Segment](./learn-dashboard-automations-add-to-segment.md)
- [Contact Update](./learn-dashboard-automations-contact-update.md)
- [Contact Delete](./learn-dashboard-automations-contact-delete.md)

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