Understand Smart Home Security Add-ons
You can use the Alexa APIs to create smart home add-ons that control smart home security devices such as cameras, locks, motion sensors, and other devices. You create smart home security add-ons the same way you create any other smart home add-on. For details, see Connect Your Device Cloud with Smart Home Add-ons and Steps to Build Smart Home Add-ons.
You can build an Alexa add-on for cloud-enabled cameras that stream video and audio by using Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) protocol or the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP). Amazon recommends that you use WebRTC whenever possible. If you want to support 2-way communication, you must use Alexa.RTCSessionController.
The Smart Home API follows the OAuth2.0 specification. Every request sent from the Smart Home API to a smart home add-on contains an OAuth access token in the request to enable access to the customer's device cloud. The device cloud must support the authorization code grant flow type. For details, see Account Linking for Smart Home and Other Domains.
Alexa.RTCSessionController interface. The Alexa.CameraStreamController interface is no longer valid for WWA certification for these devices.Utterances
The Alexa interfaces to build add-ons for smart home security devices use the pre-built voice interaction model. The following examples show some user utterances.
Alexa, talk to my front door camera.
Alexa, lock my front door.
Alexa, arm my home in away mode.
Alexa interfaces for security add-ons
Implement the following Smart Home APIs in your Alexa add-on to enable users to control your smart home security devices. For ideas about how to combine Alexa interfaces in different products, see Get Started with Device Templates.
- Alexa.CameraStreamController – Users can view the feed from their security cameras that use the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP).
- Alexa.ContactSensor – For devices that detect contact between two surfaces.
- Alexa.DoorbellEventSource – For devices that can raise doorbell events.
- Alexa.LockController – Users can lock and unlock their lockable devices.
- Alexa.MotionSensor – For devices that can sense physical movement in an area.
- Alexa.RTCSessionController – Users can communicate remotely with devices that support Real-Time Communication and the WebRTC protocol.
- Alexa.SecurityPanelController – Users can arm and disarm security systems, and for devices that can report alarm conditions to your users.
- Alexa.SecurityPanelController.Alert – For devices that report security alerts, Alexa plays the alert on Alexa-enabled devices.
- Alexa.SmartVision.ObjectDetectionSensor – Users can receive notifications when a camera detects an object, such as a person or package.
- Alexa.SmartVision.SnapshotProvider – Users can request Alexa to send a snapshot image from their camera device.
Related topics
Last updated: Oct 20, 2025
