> This is a page from the ElevenLabs documentation. For a complete page index, fetch https://elevenlabs.io/docs/llms.txt. For the full documentation in a single file, fetch https://elevenlabs.io/docs/llms-full.txt.

# Vite (Javascript)

This tutorial will guide you through creating a web client that can interact with a ElevenLabs agent. You'll learn how to implement real-time voice conversations, allowing users to speak with an AI agent that can listen, understand, and respond naturally using voice synthesis.

> **Note**
>
> Looking to build with React/Next.js? Check out our [Next.js guide](/docs/eleven-agents/guides/quickstarts/next-js)

## What You'll Need

1. An ElevenLabs agent created following [this guide](/docs/eleven-agents/quickstart)
2. `npm` installed on your local system
3. Basic knowledge of JavaScript

## Project Setup

#### Create a Project Directory

Open a terminal and create a new directory for your project:

```bash
mkdir elevenlabs-conversational-ai
cd elevenlabs-conversational-ai
```

#### Initialize npm and Install Dependencies

Initialize a new npm project and install the required packages:

```bash
npm init -y
npm install vite @elevenlabs/client
```

#### Set up Basic Project Structure

Add this to your `package.json`:

**`package.json`**

```json package.json {4}
{
    "scripts": {
        ...
        "dev:frontend": "vite"
    }
}
```

Create the following file structure:

```shell {2,3}
elevenlabs-conversational-ai/
├── index.html
├── script.js
├── package-lock.json
├── package.json
└── node_modules
```

## Implementing the Voice Chat Interface

#### Create the HTML Interface

In `index.html`, set up a simple user interface:

![](/docs/_fern-img/5ad9dea65eddc50beaf444e5d319dc5094df0f4183e50f7ed01900394b3ff9d2.webp)

**`index.html`**

```html index.html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
    <head>
        <meta charset="UTF-8" />
        <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
        <title>ElevenLabs Agents</title>
    </head>
    <body style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; padding: 50px;">
        <h1>ElevenLabs Agents</h1>
        <div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
            <button id="startButton" style="padding: 10px 20px; margin: 5px;">Start Conversation</button>
            <button id="stopButton" style="padding: 10px 20px; margin: 5px;" disabled>Stop Conversation</button>
        </div>
        <div style="font-size: 18px;">
            <p>Status: <span id="connectionStatus">Disconnected</span></p>
            <p>Agent is <span id="agentStatus">listening</span></p>
        </div>
        <script type="module" src="../images/script.js"></script>
    </body>
</html>
```

#### Implement the Conversation Logic

In `script.js`, implement the functionality:

**`script.js`**

```javascript script.js
import { Conversation } from '@elevenlabs/client';

const startButton = document.getElementById('startButton');
const stopButton = document.getElementById('stopButton');
const connectionStatus = document.getElementById('connectionStatus');
const agentStatus = document.getElementById('agentStatus');

let conversation;

async function startConversation() {
    try {
        // Request microphone permission
        await navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia({ audio: true });

        // Start the conversation
        conversation = await Conversation.startSession({
            agentId: 'YOUR_AGENT_ID', // Replace with your agent ID
            onConnect: () => {
                connectionStatus.textContent = 'Connected';
                startButton.disabled = true;
                stopButton.disabled = false;
            },
            onDisconnect: () => {
                connectionStatus.textContent = 'Disconnected';
                startButton.disabled = false;
                stopButton.disabled = true;
            },
            onError: (error) => {
                console.error('Error:', error);
            },
            onModeChange: (mode) => {
                agentStatus.textContent = mode.mode === 'speaking' ? 'speaking' : 'listening';
            },
        });
    } catch (error) {
        console.error('Failed to start conversation:', error);
    }
}

async function stopConversation() {
    if (conversation) {
        await conversation.endSession();
        conversation = null;
    }
}

startButton.addEventListener('click', startConversation);
stopButton.addEventListener('click', stopConversation);
```

#### Start the frontend server

```shell
npm run dev:frontend
```

> **Note**
>
> Make sure to replace `'YOUR_AGENT_ID'` with your actual agent ID from ElevenLabs.

#### (Optional) Authenticate with a Signed URL

> **Note**
>
> This authentication step is only required for private agents. If you're using a public agent, you can skip this section and directly use the `agentId` in the `startSession` call.

#### Create Environment Variables

Create a `.env` file in your project root:

**`.env`**

```env .env
ELEVENLABS_API_KEY=your-api-key-here
AGENT_ID=your-agent-id-here
```

> **Warning**
>
> Make sure to add `.env` to your `.gitignore` file to prevent accidentally committing sensitive credentials.

#### Setup the Backend

1. Install additional dependencies:

```bash
npm install express cors dotenv
```

2. Create a new folder called `backend`:

```shell {2}
elevenlabs-conversational-ai/
├── backend
...
```

#### Create the Server

**`backend/server.js`**

```javascript backend/server.js
require("dotenv").config();

const express = require("express");
const cors = require("cors");

const app = express();
app.use(cors());
app.use(express.json());

const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3001;

app.get("/api/get-signed-url", async (req, res) => {
    try {
        const response = await fetch(
            `https://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/convai/conversation/get-signed-url?agent_id=${process.env.AGENT_ID}`,
            {
                headers: {
                    "xi-api-key": process.env.ELEVENLABS_API_KEY,
                },
            }
        );

        if (!response.ok) {
            throw new Error("Failed to get signed URL");
        }

        const data = await response.json();
        res.json({ signedUrl: data.signed_url });
    } catch (error) {
        console.error("Error:", error);
        res.status(500).json({ error: "Failed to generate signed URL" });
    }
});

app.listen(PORT, () => {
    console.log(`Server running on http://localhost:${PORT}`);
});
```

#### Update the Client Code

Modify your `script.js` to fetch and use the signed URL:

**`script.js`**

```javascript script.js {2-10,16,19,20}
// ... existing imports and variables ...

async function getSignedUrl() {
    const response = await fetch('http://localhost:3001/api/get-signed-url');
    if (!response.ok) {
        throw new Error(`Failed to get signed url: ${response.statusText}`);
    }
    const { signedUrl } = await response.json();
    return signedUrl;
}

async function startConversation() {
    try {
        await navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia({ audio: true });

        const signedUrl = await getSignedUrl();

        conversation = await Conversation.startSession({
            signedUrl,
            // agentId has been removed...
            onConnect: () => {
                connectionStatus.textContent = 'Connected';
                startButton.disabled = true;
                stopButton.disabled = false;
            },
            onDisconnect: () => {
                connectionStatus.textContent = 'Disconnected';
                startButton.disabled = false;
                stopButton.disabled = true;
            },
            onError: (error) => {
                console.error('Error:', error);
            },
            onModeChange: (mode) => {
                agentStatus.textContent = mode.mode === 'speaking' ? 'speaking' : 'listening';
            },
        });
    } catch (error) {
        console.error('Failed to start conversation:', error);
    }
}

// ... rest of the code ...
```

> **Warning**
>
> Signed URLs expire after a short period. However, any conversations initiated before expiration will continue uninterrupted. In a production environment, implement proper error handling and URL refresh logic for starting new conversations.

#### Update the package.json

**`package.json`**

```json package.json {4,5}
{
    "scripts": {
        ...
        "dev:backend": "node backend/server.js",
        "dev": "npm run dev:frontend & npm run dev:backend"
    }
}
```

#### Run the Application

Start the application with:

```bash
npm run dev
```

## Next Steps

Now that you have a basic implementation, you can:

1. Add visual feedback for voice activity
2. Implement error handling and retry logic
3. Add a chat history display
4. Customize the UI to match your brand

> **Info**
>
> For more advanced features and customization options, check out the
> [@elevenlabs/client](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@elevenlabs/client) package.

> ElevenLabs provides APIs and SDKs for text to speech, voice cloning, speech to text, sound effects, voice isolator, voice changer, and conversational AI agents. Build voice-enabled applications with lifelike audio generation.