Manage folders and labels with Node.js

This page explains how to use the Nylas Node.js SDK and Email API to organize an end user's inbox using folders and labels.

Before you begin

Before you start, you must have done the following tasks:

List folders and labels

Depending on the end user's email provider, there are two possible ways their inbox might be organized: using either folders or labels. Gmail uses labels, and all other providers use folders. Nylas consolidates both folders and labels under the Folders endpoint.

The following example lists all folders and labels from an end user's inbox.

async function fetchFolders() {
 try {
    const folders = await nylas.folders.list({
      identifier: '<NYLAS_GRANT_ID>',
    })

    console.log('folders:', folders)
 } catch (error) {
   console.error('Error fetching folders:', error)
 }
}

fetchFolders()

Create folders and labels

The following example creates a folder called "Cat Pics!" and applies it to the most recent email message in the end user's inbox.

import 'dotenv/config'
import Nylas from 'nylas'

const NylasConfig = {
  apiKey: '<NYLAS_API_KEY>',
  apiUri: '<NYLAS_API_URI>',
}

const nylas = new Nylas(NylasConfig)
const identifier = '<NYLAS_GRANT_ID>'
const messageId = '<MESSAGE_ID>'
let folderId = '' 

const createFolder = async () => {
  try {
    const folder = await nylas.folders.create({
      identifier,
      requestBody: {
        name: 'Cat Pics!'
      }
    })

    console.log('Folder created:', folder)
    folderId = folder.data.id
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error creating folder:', error)
  }
}

const updateMessageFolder = async () => {
  try {
    const updatedMessage = await nylas.messages.update({ 
      identifier,
      messageId,
      requestBody: {
          folders: [folderId]
      } 
    })
    
    console.log('Message updated:', updatedMessage)
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error updating message folder:', error)
  }
}

await createFolder()
await updateMessageFolder()

Explore the Email API

If you've made it to this point, congratulations! You've learned how to manage folders and labels with the Nylas Node.js SDK and Email API! 🎉

There's plenty more that you can do with Nylas. Take a look at the following resources to learn more: