# email-sdk send (/docs/reference/cli/send)



## Safe dry run [#safe-dry-run]

```bash
EMAIL_SDK_TELEMETRY=0 email-sdk send \
  --adapter resend \
  --from "Acme <hello@example.com>" \
  --to user@example.com \
  --subject "Welcome" \
  --text "Your account is ready." \
  --dry-run
```

Dry run creates the real adapter with placeholder credentials where needed, calls `client.validate`, and prints `{ ok, adapter, message }`. It does not call the adapter send method. Attachment output includes paths and metadata, never file contents.

## Message flags [#message-flags]

| Flag                          | Behavior                                                               |
| ----------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--from`                      | Sender address                                                         |
| `--to`                        | Comma-separated recipients                                             |
| `--subject`                   | Subject                                                                |
| `--text`, `--html`            | At least one body                                                      |
| `--cc`, `--bcc`, `--reply-to` | Comma-separated addresses                                              |
| `--header "Name: value"`      | Repeatable lossless headers                                            |
| `--tag name=value`            | Repeatable tags                                                        |
| `--metadata key=value`        | Repeatable provider metadata, parsed as strings                        |
| `--attachment path[:type]`    | Repeatable server-side files; `--attach` also works                    |
| `--message path`              | Start from an `EmailMessage` JSON file; explicit flags override fields |
| `--send-at`                   | RFC 3339 schedule for capable adapters                                 |
| `--dry-run`                   | Validate and print without sending                                     |

## Adapter flags [#adapter-flags]

Common credential flags include `--api-key`, `--server-token`, and `--base-url`. Cloudflare adds `--api-token` and `--account-id`. Iterable adds `--campaign-id`, `--iterable-send-at`, and `--allow-repeat-marketing-sends`. SMTP adds host, port, TLS, and auth flags.

Run `email-sdk help` for the current list.

## Live sends [#live-sends]

Without `--dry-run`, the command constructs one adapter, calls `client.send`, and prints the normalized result as JSON. There is no CLI fallback route or retry flag.

Do not run a live command against an external recipient without approval.

<Card title="Adapter pages" href="/docs/adapters" description="See provider-specific environment and field rules." />