# Verify a user using SMS PIN with PHP

This guide shows how to verify a user in a PHP application using the Verification API to make an SMS PIN verification.

The following diagram demonstrates the flow that happens to verify a user:

[![verification-flow](/assets/verification_flow.cec2857225cc33c23554c2cfa96065e34f709b3a43c726d66f19224b96b0f790.ec4a73e2.png)](/assets/verification_flow.cec2857225cc33c23554c2cfa96065e34f709b3a43c726d66f19224b96b0f790.ec4a73e2.png)

1. The end user visits your website or service and tries to log in.
2. Your backend then makes a request to the Sinch platform and [initiates an SMS PIN verification request](/docs/verification/getting-started/php/sms-pin-verify/initiate-verification).
3. The Sinch platform sends an SMS message with a one time PIN code to the phone number of the user.
4. The user enters the code they received.
5. Your backend makes a [report verification request](/docs/verification/getting-started/php/sms-pin-verify/report-verification) using the code the user entered.
6. If the code matches, your backend will receive a success result from Sinch.
7. The user, now verified, can proceed to log in to your site or service.


## Next steps

Now you're ready to get started by initiating a verification request.

Initiate a verification request