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Install an Amplitude server SDK

For backend engineers5 minBeginner

This quickstart installs an Amplitude SDK on a server so your backend can send events. Pick your language: Node.js or Python. Each language takes three steps: install, initialize, and track your first event.

To send events without an SDK, use the HTTP API Quickstart.

Prerequisites

  • An Amplitude project and its API key. Create a free Amplitude account if you need one.
  • Access to your server codebase.

Install the SDK

  1. Install

    Install the package

    bash
    npm install @amplitude/analytics-node

  2. Initialize

    Initialize Amplitude at startup

    javascript
    import { init, track } from "@amplitude/analytics-node";

init("AMPLITUDE_API_KEY");

  3. Track

    Track your first event

    javascript
    track("Button Clicked", undefined, { user_id: "user@example.com" });

For full configuration options, refer to Node.js SDK.

Confirm that events arrive

After you track your first event, open the Amplitude Debugger to confirm that it reaches your project.

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