Clerk

Clerk Email & SMS Templates API

Email & SMS templates allow you to customize the theming and wording of emails & SMS messages that are sent by your instance.

GitHub OpenAPI

Operations 6

Each operation below carries the questions people ask an LLM about it and the instructions they give an agent to run it. Generated by API Evangelist overlay

GET /templates/{template_type} List email or SMS templates · List All Templates #
Ask an LLM
“Which email templates can I customize for my instance?”
“Can I list all SMS templates in order?”
Tell an agent
List all {template_type} templates.
Show every template of type {template_type} sorted by position.
GET /templates/{template_type}/{slug} Retrieve one email or SMS template · Retrieve a Template #
Ask an LLM
“What does the current verification code email template say?”
“Can I read the subject and body of a specific template?”
Tell an agent
Get the {template_type} template {slug}.
Show the subject and body of {template_type} template {slug}.
PUT /templates/{template_type}/{slug} Edit an email or SMS template · Update a Template for a Given Type and Slug #
Ask an LLM
“How do I customize the subject and body of an email template?”
“Can I change the from name or reply-to name on an email template?”
Tell an agent
Set the subject of {template_type} template {slug} to {subject}.
Replace the body of {template_type} template {slug} with {body}.
POST /templates/{template_type}/{slug}/revert Revert a template to its default · Revert a Template #
Ask an LLM
“How do I undo my customizations and restore a template's default?”
“Can a customized template be reset?”
Tell an agent destructive · confirm first
Revert {template_type} template {slug} to default.
Reset my changes to template {slug} of type {template_type}.
POST /templates/{template_type}/{slug}/preview Preview changes to a template · Preview Changes to a Template #
Ask an LLM
“Can I see how a template will render before saving my edits?”
“What would an email look like with a new subject and body?”
Tell an agent
Preview {template_type} template {slug} with body {body}.
Render a preview of {template_type} template {slug} with subject {subject}.
POST /templates/{template_type}/{slug}/toggle_delivery Turn Clerk delivery on or off for a template · Toggle the Delivery by Clerk for a Template of a Given Type and Slug #
Ask an LLM
“How do I send a template's emails myself instead of having Clerk deliver them?”
“If I disable delivery for a template, which webhook do I listen to?”
Tell an agent
Stop Clerk from delivering {template_type} template {slug}.
Set delivery by Clerk to {delivered_by_clerk} for {template_type} template {slug}.

Documentation

📖
Documentation
https://clerk.com/docs/reference/backend-api
📖
APIReference
https://clerk.com/docs/reference/backend-api
📖
GettingStarted
https://clerk.com/docs/quickstarts/overview
📖
Authentication
https://clerk.com/docs/backend-requests/making/jwt-templates
📖
Documentation
https://clerk.com/docs
📖
Documentation
https://clerk.com/docs/webhooks/overview

Specifications

⚙
OpenAPI
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/clerk-com/refs/heads/main/openapi/clerk-com-email-sms-templates-api-openapi.yml

Other Resources

🔗
SpectralRuleset
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/clerk-com/refs/heads/main/rules/clerk-rules.yml

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OpenAPI Specification

clerk-com-email-sms-templates-api-openapi.yml Raw ↑ 
openapi: 3.2.0
info:
  title: Clerk Backend Email & SMS Templates API
  x-logo:
    url: https://clerk.com/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Fclerk-logo.svg&w=96&q=75
    altText: Clerk docs
    href: https://clerk.com/docs
  contact:
    email: support@clerk.com
    name: Clerk Platform Team
    url: https://clerk.com/support
  description: 'The Clerk REST Backend API, meant to be accessed by backend servers.


    ### Versions


    When the API changes in a way that isn''t compatible with older versions, a new version is released.

    Each version is identified by its release date, e.g. `2025-04-10`. For more information, please see Clerk API Versions.


    Please see https://clerk.com/docs for more information.'
  version: '2025-11-10'
  termsOfService: https://clerk.com/terms
  license:
    name: MIT
    url: https://github.com/clerk/openapi-specs/blob/main/LICENSE
servers:
- url: https://api.clerk.com/v1
security:
- bearerAuth: []
tags:
- name: Email & SMS Templates
  description: Email & SMS templates allow you to customize the theming and wording of emails & SMS messages that are sent by your instance.
  externalDocs:
    url: https://clerk.com/docs/authentication/email-sms-templates
paths:
  /templates/{template_type}:
    get:
      deprecated: true
      operationId: GetTemplateList
      x-speakeasy-group: emailSMSTemplates
      x-speakeasy-name-override: list
      summary: List All Templates
      description: 'Returns a list of all templates.

        The templates are returned sorted by position.'
      tags:
      - Email & SMS Templates
      parameters:
      - name: template_type
        in: path
        description: The type of templates to list (email or SMS)
        required: true
        schema:
          type: string
          enum:
          - email
          - sms
      - $ref: '#/components/parameters/Paginated'
      - $ref: '#/components/parameters/LimitParameter'
      - $ref: '#/components/parameters/OffsetParameter'
      responses:
        '200':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Template.List'
        '400':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ClerkErrors'
        '401':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/AuthenticationInvalid'
        '422':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/UnprocessableEntity'
  /templates/{template_type}/{slug}:
    get:
      deprecated: true
      operationId: GetTemplate
      x-speakeasy-group: emailSMSTemplates
      x-speakeasy-name-override: get
      summary: Retrieve a Template
      description: Returns the details of a template
      tags:
      - Email & SMS Templates
      parameters:
      - name: template_type
        in: path
        description: The type of templates to retrieve (email or SMS)
        required: true
        schema:
          type: string
          enum:
          - email
          - sms
      - name: slug
        in: path
        description: The slug (i.e. machine-friendly name) of the template to retrieve
        required: true
        schema:
          type: string
      responses:
        '200':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Template'
        '400':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ClerkErrors'
        '401':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/AuthenticationInvalid'
        '404':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ResourceNotFound'
    put:
      deprecated: true
      operationId: UpsertTemplate
      x-speakeasy-group: emailAndSmsTemplates
      x-speakeasy-name-override: upsert
      summary: Update a Template for a Given Type and Slug
      description: Updates the existing template of the given type and slug
      tags:
      - Email & SMS Templates
      parameters:
      - name: template_type
        in: path
        description: The type of template to update
        required: true
        schema:
          type: string
          enum:
          - email
          - sms
      - name: slug
        in: path
        description: The slug of the template to update
        required: true
        schema:
          type: string
      requestBody:
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              type: object
              additionalProperties: false
              properties:
                name:
                  type: string
                  description: The user-friendly name of the template
                subject:
                  type:
                  - string
                  - 'null'
                  description: 'The email subject.

                    Applicable only to email templates.'
                markup:
                  type:
                  - string
                  - 'null'
                  description: The editor markup used to generate the body of the template
                body:
                  type: string
                  description: The template body before variable interpolation
                delivered_by_clerk:
                  type:
                  - boolean
                  - 'null'
                  description: Whether Clerk should deliver emails or SMS messages based on the current template
                from_email_name:
                  type: string
                  description: 'The local part of the From email address that will be used for emails.

                    For example, in the address ''hello@example.com'', the local part is ''hello''.

                    Applicable only to email templates.'
                reply_to_email_name:
                  type: string
                  description: 'The local part of the Reply To email address that will be used for emails.

                    For example, in the address ''hello@example.com'', the local part is ''hello''.

                    Applicable only to email templates.'
      responses:
        '200':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Template'
        '400':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ClerkErrors'
        '401':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/AuthenticationInvalid'
        '402':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/PaymentRequired'
        '403':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ClerkErrors'
        '404':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ResourceNotFound'
        '422':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/UnprocessableEntity'
  /templates/{template_type}/{slug}/revert:
    post:
      deprecated: true
      operationId: RevertTemplate
      x-speakeasy-group: emailSMSTemplates
      x-speakeasy-name-override: revert
      summary: Revert a Template
      description: Reverts an updated template to its default state
      tags:
      - Email & SMS Templates
      parameters:
      - name: template_type
        in: path
        description: The type of template to revert
        required: true
        schema:
          type: string
          enum:
          - email
          - sms
      - name: slug
        in: path
        description: The slug of the template to revert
        required: true
        schema:
          type: string
      responses:
        '200':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Template'
        '400':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ClerkErrors'
        '401':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/AuthenticationInvalid'
        '402':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/PaymentRequired'
        '404':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ResourceNotFound'
  /templates/{template_type}/{slug}/preview:
    post:
      deprecated: true
      operationId: PreviewTemplate
      x-speakeasy-group: templates
      x-speakeasy-name-override: preview
      summary: Preview Changes to a Template
      description: Returns a preview of a template for a given template_type, slug and body
      tags:
      - Email & SMS Templates
      parameters:
      - name: template_type
        in: path
        description: The type of template to preview
        required: true
        schema:
          type: string
      - name: slug
        in: path
        description: The slug of the template to preview
        required: true
        schema:
          type: string
      requestBody:
        description: Required parameters
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              type: object
              additionalProperties: false
              properties:
                subject:
                  type:
                  - string
                  - 'null'
                  description: 'The email subject.

                    Applicable only to email templates.'
                body:
                  type: string
                  description: The template body before variable interpolation
                from_email_name:
                  type: string
                  description: 'The local part of the From email address that will be used for emails.

                    For example, in the address ''hello@example.com'', the local part is ''hello''.

                    Applicable only to email templates.'
                reply_to_email_name:
                  type: string
                  description: 'The local part of the Reply To email address that will be used for emails.

                    For example, in the address ''hello@example.com'', the local part is ''hello''.

                    Applicable only to email templates.'
      responses:
        '200':
          description: OK
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                type: object
        '400':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ClerkErrors'
        '401':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/AuthenticationInvalid'
        '404':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ResourceNotFound'
        '422':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/UnprocessableEntity'
  /templates/{template_type}/{slug}/toggle_delivery:
    post:
      deprecated: true
      operationId: ToggleTemplateDelivery
      x-speakeasy-group: emailSMSTemplates
      x-speakeasy-name-override: toggleTemplateDelivery
      summary: Toggle the Delivery by Clerk for a Template of a Given Type and Slug
      description: 'Toggles the delivery by Clerk for a template of a given type and slug.

        If disabled, Clerk will not deliver the resulting email or SMS.

        The app developer will need to listen to the `email.created` or `sms.created` webhooks in order to handle delivery themselves.'
      tags:
      - Email & SMS Templates
      parameters:
      - name: template_type
        in: path
        description: The type of template to toggle delivery for
        required: true
        schema:
          type: string
          enum:
          - email
          - sms
      - name: slug
        in: path
        description: The slug of the template for which to toggle delivery
        required: true
        schema:
          type: string
      requestBody:
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              type: object
              additionalProperties: false
              properties:
                delivered_by_clerk:
                  type: boolean
                  description: Whether Clerk should deliver emails or SMS messages based on the current template
      responses:
        '200':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/Template'
        '400':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ClerkErrors'
        '401':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/AuthenticationInvalid'
        '404':
          $ref: '#/components/responses/ResourceNotFound'
components:
  responses:
    Template.List:
      description: Success
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            type: array
            items:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/Template'
    UnprocessableEntity:
      description: Invalid request parameters
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ClerkErrors'
    Template:
      description: Success
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/Template'
    ResourceNotFound:
      description: Resource not found
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ClerkErrors'
    ClerkErrors:
      description: Request was not successful
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ClerkErrors'
    AuthenticationInvalid:
      description: Authentication invalid
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ClerkErrors'
    PaymentRequired:
      description: Payment required
      content:
        application/json:
          schema:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ClerkErrors'
  parameters:
    Paginated:
      name: paginated
      in: query
      description: 'Whether to paginate the results.

        If true, the results will be paginated.

        If false, the results will not be paginated.'
      required: false
      schema:
        type: boolean
    LimitParameter:
      name: limit
      in: query
      description: 'Applies a limit to the number of results returned.

        Can be used for paginating the results together with `offset`.'
      required: false
      schema:
        type: integer
        default: 10
        minimum: 1
        maximum: 500
    OffsetParameter:
      name: offset
      in: query
      description: 'Skip the first `offset` results when paginating.

        Needs to be an integer greater or equal to zero.

        To be used in conjunction with `limit`.'
      required: false
      schema:
        type: integer
        default: 0
        minimum: 0
  schemas:
    ClerkError:
      type: object
      properties:
        message:
          type: string
        long_message:
          type: string
        code:
          type: string
        meta:
          type: object
      required:
      - message
      - long_message
      - code
    ClerkErrors:
      type: object
      properties:
        errors:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ClerkError'
        meta:
          type: object
        clerk_trace_id:
          type: string
      required:
      - errors
    Template:
      type: object
      additionalProperties: false
      properties:
        id:
          type: string
        object:
          type: string
          description: 'String representing the object''s type. Objects of the same type share the same value.

            '
          enum:
          - template
        instance_id:
          type:
          - string
          - 'null'
          description: The ID of the instance to which the template belongs
        resource_type:
          type: string
          description: whether this is a system (default) or user overridden) template
        template_type:
          type: string
          description: whether this is an email or SMS template
        name:
          type: string
          description: user-friendly name of the template
        slug:
          type: string
          description: machine-friendly name of the template
        position:
          type: integer
          description: position with the listing of templates
        can_revert:
          type: boolean
          description: whether this template can be reverted to the corresponding system default
        can_delete:
          type: boolean
          description: whether this template can be deleted
        can_edit_body:
          type: boolean
          description: whether the body of this template can be edited
        can_toggle:
          type: boolean
          description: whether this template can be enabled or disabled, true only for notification SMS templates
        subject:
          type:
          - string
          - 'null'
          description: email subject
        markup:
          type: string
          description: the editor markup used to generate the body of the template
        body:
          type: string
          description: the template body before variable interpolation
        available_variables:
          type: array
          description: list of variables that are available for use in the template body
          items:
            type: string
        required_variables:
          type: array
          description: list of variables that must be contained in the template body
          items:
            type: string
        from_email_name:
          type: string
        reply_to_email_name:
          type: string
        delivered_by_clerk:
          type: boolean
        enabled:
          type: boolean
        flagged_as_suspicious:
          type: boolean
        updated_at:
          type: integer
          format: int64
          description: 'Unix timestamp of last update.

            '
        created_at:
          type: integer
          format: int64
          description: 'Unix timestamp of creation.

            '
  securitySchemes:
    bearerAuth:
      type: http
      scheme: bearer
      description: Secret key, obtained under "API Keys" in the Clerk Dashboard.
      bearerFormat: sk_<environment>_<secret value>
externalDocs:
  url: https://clerk.com/docs
x-speakeasy-retries:
  strategy: backoff
  backoff:
    initialInterval: 500
    maxInterval: 60000
    maxElapsedTime: 3600000
    exponent: 1.5
  statusCodes:
  - 5XX
  retryConnectionErrors: true