Introduction:

In today’s digital age, businesses rely heavily on online transactions to facilitate sales and services. However, managing payments securely and efficiently can be a daunting task. This is where payment gateways like Stripe come into play, offering a seamless solution for handling online payments. In this article, we will explore how to integrate Stripe with Express.js, a popular web application framework for Node.js, to streamline the payment process for your web applications.

Step 1: Setting Up a Stripe Account:

Before diving into integration, you’ll need to create a Stripe account. Follow these steps:

1. Visit the Stripe website (https://stripe.com/) and sign up for an account.

2. Complete the necessary information and verify your email address.

3. Once logged in, navigate to the Dashboard, where you’ll find your API keys. You’ll need these keys to integrate Stripe with your Express.js application.

Step 2: Installing Dependencies:

To begin integrating Stripe with Express.js, you’ll need to install the necessary dependencies. Open your terminal and navigate to your project directory. Then, execute the following command:

npm install stripe express body-parser

This command installs the Stripe SDK, Express.js framework, and Body-parser middleware for parsing incoming request bodies.

Step 3: Setting Up Express.js Server:

Create an Express.js server to handle incoming requests and interact with Stripe’s API. Here’s a basic example:

const express = require(‘express’);
const bodyParser = require(‘body-parser’);
const stripe = require(‘stripe’)(process.env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY);

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

// Define routes and handle Stripe integration here

const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3000;
app.listen(PORT, () => {
  console.log(`Server is running on port ${PORT}`);
});
“`

Replace `process.env.STRIPE_SECRET_KEY` with your actual Stripe secret key.

Step 4: Integrating Stripe Checkout:

One of the simplest ways to collect payments with Stripe is by using Checkout. It provides a pre-built payment form that you can embed in your application. Here’s how to integrate it:

app.post(‘/create-checkout-session’, async (req, res) => {
const session = await stripe.checkout.sessions.create({
payment_method_types: [‘card’],
line_items: [
{
price_data: {
currency: ‘usd’,
product_data: {
name: ‘Sample Product’,
// Add more product details here as needed
},
unit_amount: 1000, // Amount in cents
},
quantity: 1,
},
],
mode: ‘payment’,
success_url: ‘https://yourwebsite.com/success’,
cancel_url: ‘https://yourwebsite.com/cancel’,
});

res.json({ id: session.id });
});
“`

This route creates a new Checkout session and returns its ID, which you can then use to redirect the user to the Stripe Checkout page.

Step 5: Handling Webhooks:

To handle events such as successful payments or failed charges, you can set up webhook endpoints in your Express.js application. This allows Stripe to notify your server about these events. Here’s an example:

app.post(‘/webhook’, bodyParser.raw({ type: ‘application/json’ }), (req, res) => {
const sig = req.headers[‘stripe-signature’];
let event;

try {
event = stripe.webhooks.constructEvent(req.body, sig, process.env.STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET);
} catch (err) {
return res.status(400).send(`Webhook Error: ${err.message}`);
}

// Handle the event
switch (event.type) {
case ‘payment_intent.succeeded’:
const paymentIntent = event.data.object;
// Handle successful payment
break;
// Add more event handlers as needed
}

res.json({ received: true });
});
“`

Make sure to replace `process.env.STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET` with your actual webhook secret.

Conclusion:

Integrating Stripe with Express.js can significantly simplify the process of handling online payments for your web applications. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a secure and efficient payment system that enhances the user experience and boosts your business’s revenue. With Stripe’s robust features and Express.js’s flexibility, you’ll be well-equipped to meet the demands of modern e-commerce.

Create Customer:

In any business, managing customer information and their payment details is crucial for providing seamless services and ensuring smooth transactions. With Stripe, creating and managing customer profiles is not only easy but also highly secure. In this section, we’ll delve into the process of creating customers in Stripe and how you can leverage this functionality to enhance your payment management system.

1. Setting Up Customer Creation Endpoint:

To create customers in Stripe, you’ll need to set up an endpoint in your Express.js application. Here’s how you can do it:

app.post(‘/create-customer’, async (req, res) => {
try {
const customer = await stripe.customers.create({
email: req.body.email,
name: req.body.name,
// Add additional customer information as needed
});
res.status(201).json(customer);
} catch (error) {
console.error(‘Error creating customer:’, error);
res.status(500).send(‘Unable to create customer.’);
}
});
“`

In this endpoint, we’re using the `stripe.customers.create` method to create a new customer in Stripe. You can include various details such as email, name, address, and more depending on your business requirements.

2. Handling Customer Creation Request:

When a request is made to the `/create-customer` endpoint, your Express.js server will create a new customer in Stripe with the provided information. Here’s an example of how you can send a POST request to this endpoint:

“`bash
curl -X POST \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d ‘{"email": "customer@example.com", "name": "John Doe"}’ \
http://localhost:3000/create-customer
“`

Replace `http://localhost:3000/create-customer` with your actual endpoint URL.

3. Managing Customer Data:

Once a customer is created in Stripe, you’ll receive a response containing the customer object, which includes a unique identifier (`id`) along with other details. You can use this identifier to retrieve, update, or delete customer information as needed.

“`json
{
"id": "cus_JK3BiOg7h0JJWP",
"object": "customer",
"email": "customer@example.com",
"name": "John Doe",
// Other customer details
}
“`

4. Retrieving Customer Information:

To retrieve customer information from Stripe, you can use the `stripe.customers.retrieve` method and provide the customer’s ID. Here’s an example:

const customer = await stripe.customers.retrieve(‘cus_JK3BiOg7h0JJWP’);
console.log(customer);
“`

This will return the customer object containing all the stored information about the customer.

By integrating customer creation functionality into your Express.js application with Stripe, you can efficiently manage customer data and streamline the payment process. Whether you’re running an e-commerce store, subscription service, or any other online business, creating customers in Stripe provides a secure and scalable solution for handling customer information and payments. With these capabilities at your disposal, you can focus on delivering exceptional services while Stripe takes care of the payment complexities behind the scenes.

Create Subscription Package:

Offering subscription-based services is a popular business model for many online platforms, providing recurring revenue streams and fostering customer loyalty. With Stripe, creating and managing subscription packages is straightforward, allowing you to set up recurring payment plans with various pricing tiers. In this section, we’ll explore how to create subscription packages in Stripe and define different pricing options to cater to your customers’ needs.

1. Defining Subscription Plans:

Firstly, you’ll need to define the subscription plans you want to offer. These plans typically include different pricing tiers with varying features or benefits. Here’s an example of how you can define subscription plans:

“`json
{
"name": "Basic Plan",
"id": "basic_plan",
"interval": "month",
"currency": "usd",
"amount": 999,
"product": {
"name": "Your Product"
}
}
“`

In this example, we’ve defined a basic monthly subscription plan priced at $9.99 USD per month. You can customize the name, ID, interval (e.g., month, year), currency, and amount based on your pricing strategy.

2. Creating Subscription Plans in Stripe Dashboard:

Navigate to the Stripe Dashboard and follow these steps to create subscription plans:

– Go to the Products section and click on “Create Product.”

– Enter the product details, including name and description.

– Under the Pricing section, click on “Add Pricing Plan.”

– Fill in the pricing details for each plan, such as interval, currency, and amount.

– Save the changes, and Stripe will create the subscription plans for you.

3. Integrating Subscription Plans in Express.js:

To integrate subscription plans into your Express.js application, you’ll need to set up endpoints for managing subscriptions, such as subscribing customers to plans and handling subscription changes or cancellations. Here’s an example of how you can subscribe a customer to a plan:

app.post(‘/subscribe’, async (req, res) => {
try {
const customer = await stripe.customers.create({
email: req.body.email,
// Add more customer details as needed
});

const subscription = await stripe.subscriptions.create({
customer: customer.id,
items: [{ price: ‘price_basic_plan’ }], // Replace with your price ID
});

res.status(201).json(subscription);
} catch (error) {
console.error(‘Error creating subscription:’, error);
res.status(500).send(‘Unable to create subscription.’);
}
});
“`

4. Offering Multiple Pricing Tiers:

To cater to different customer segments, you can offer multiple pricing tiers with varying features and prices. For example, you can create a “Standard Plan” and a “Premium Plan” with different price points and feature sets. This allows you to appeal to a wider audience and maximize revenue potential.

By leveraging Stripe’s subscription management capabilities, you can easily create and manage subscription packages tailored to your business needs. Whether you’re offering software-as-a-service (SaaS), content subscriptions, or membership plans, Stripe provides the flexibility and scalability to handle recurring payments efficiently. With subscription packages in place, you can build predictable revenue streams and foster long-term relationships with your customers, driving growth and success for your business.

Create Coupon: 

Define an endpoint in your Express.js application to handle coupon creation requests. This endpoint will receive coupon details via a POST request and use the Stripe API to create the coupon.

app.post(‘/create-coupon’, async (req, res) => {
try {
const coupon = await stripe.coupons.create({
name: req.body.name,
percent_off: req.body.percent_off,
duration: req.body.duration,
// Add more coupon details as needed
});
res.status(201).json(coupon);
} catch (error) {
console.error(‘Error creating coupon:’, error);
res.status(500).send(‘Unable to create coupon.’);
}
});

Customer subscription to a plan:

Enabling customers to subscribe to subscription packages is a pivotal aspect of many businesses, particularly those offering services or content on a recurring basis. With Stripe, facilitating customer subscriptions to subscription packages becomes seamless and secure. In this section, we’ll explore the detailed process of how customers can subscribe to subscription packages using Stripe, along with the necessary steps involved.

1. Displaying Subscription Options:

Begin by presenting your customers with the available subscription options. This could be done on your website or within your application interface. Clearly outline the different subscription tiers, along with their features, prices, and billing frequencies (e.g., monthly, annually).

2. Collecting Customer Information:

Once a customer selects a subscription package, collect their necessary information, such as email address, billing details, and any additional required information. Ensure a smooth and user-friendly checkout experience to minimize friction.

3. Creating a Customer Object:

Upon collecting customer information, create a customer object in Stripe using the Stripe API. This involves sending a request to the `customers` endpoint with the relevant customer details. Here’s an example using Node.js and the Stripe Node.js library:

const stripe = require(‘stripe’)(‘your_stripe_secret_key’);

// Create a customer in Stripe
const customer = await stripe.customers.create({
email: ‘customer@example.com’,
// Add more customer details as needed
});

4. Subscribing the Customer to a Subscription Plan:

After creating the customer object, subscribe them to the desired subscription plan. Specify the subscription plan ID when creating the subscription. Here’s how you can do it:

// Subscribe the customer to a subscription plan
const subscription = await stripe.subscriptions.create({
customer: customer.id,
items: [{ price: ‘price_basic_plan’ }], // Replace with your price ID
// Add more subscription details as needed
});

Ensure that you replace `’price_basic_plan’` with the actual ID of the subscription plan you want to subscribe the customer to.

5. Handling Subscription Changes and Cancellations:

As customers interact with your subscription service, they may wish to upgrade, downgrade, or cancel their subscriptions. Implement mechanisms to handle these changes effectively. Stripe provides APIs to manage subscription updates and cancellations, allowing you to adjust subscription plans based on customer preferences.

6. Implementing Subscription Management Interface:

Provide customers with a user-friendly interface where they can manage their subscriptions, view billing history, update payment methods, and make changes to their subscription plans. This enhances customer satisfaction and reduces support inquiries.

Enabling customers to subscribe to subscription packages using Stripe offers numerous benefits, including streamlined recurring payments, flexible subscription management, and enhanced customer experience. By following the detailed steps outlined above and leveraging the capabilities of Stripe’s subscription management features, businesses can efficiently handle customer subscriptions, drive recurring revenue, and foster long-term customer relationships.

Customer Transaction History:

To fetch a customer’s transaction history in Stripe, you can use the Stripe API along with the Stripe Node.js library if you’re working with a Node.js environment. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to fetch customer transaction history:

1. Retrieve Customer ID:

   You’ll need the unique identifier (ID) of the customer whose transaction history you want to fetch. If you already have the customer’s ID, you can proceed to the next step. Otherwise, you’ll need to retrieve it by searching for the customer using their email address or other relevant information.

2. Fetch Customer’s Payment Methods:

   Before fetching transaction history, it’s helpful to retrieve the customer’s payment methods to ensure you have the necessary information for querying transactions associated with those payment methods. You can do this using the `listPaymentMethods` method in the Stripe API.

3. Query Customer’s Transactions:

   Once you have the customer’s ID and their payment method information, you can query their transaction history. Use the `list` method provided by the Stripe API to retrieve a list of transactions associated with the customer.

Here’s how you can implement this in Node.js using the Stripe Node.js library:

const stripe = require(‘stripe’)(‘your_stripe_secret_key’);

async function fetchCustomerTransactionHistory(customerId) {
try {
// Retrieve payment methods associated with the customer
const paymentMethods = await stripe.paymentMethods.list({
customer: customerId,
type: ‘card’, // Adjust type if you have other payment methods
});

// Extract payment method IDs from the retrieved payment methods
const paymentMethodIds = paymentMethods.data.map(method => method.id);

// Query transactions associated with the customer’s payment methods
const transactions = await Promise.all(paymentMethodIds.map(async (paymentMethodId) => {
return await stripe.paymentIntents.list({
payment_method: paymentMethodId,
limit: 100, // Adjust limit as needed
});
}));

// Flatten the array of transactions
const allTransactions = transactions.reduce((acc, val) => acc.concat(val.data), []);

return allTransactions;
} catch (error) {
console.error(‘Error fetching customer transaction history:’, error);
throw error;
}
}

// Usage example:
const customerId = ‘cus_123456789’; // Replace with the actual customer ID
fetchCustomerTransactionHistory(customerId)
.then(transactions => {
console.log(‘Customer transaction history:’, transactions);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error(‘Error:’, error);
});

Replace `’your_stripe_secret_key’` with your actual Stripe secret key, and `’cus_123456789’` with the customer’s actual ID.

This code will retrieve the transaction history associated with the provided customer ID, including transactions made with their payment methods. Adjustments can be made based on your specific requirements or use cases.

Github Repository:

https://github.com/KtreeOpenSource/expressExamples/tree/main/Stripe