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Last updated: June 30, 2026
Use the PayPal v6 JavaScript SDK to integrate PayPal, Venmo, Pay Later, and other payment methods into web applications. This reference covers payment eligibility checking, session management, callback handling, and web components.
Before displaying payment buttons to your buyers, check which payment methods are available for the current transaction. Eligibility depends on various factors including the buyer's location, currency, merchant configuration, and transaction amount.
sdkInstance.findEligibleMethods(options?)Use findEligibleMethods to determine which payment methods are available for the current context. findEligibleMethods queries PayPal's eligibility service and returns an object with methods to check specific payment options.
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
currencyCode | no | string. The three-letter ISO 4217 currency code for
the transaction, for example, |
countryCode | no | string. The two-letter ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code representing the buyer's country. This determines regional payment method availability. For example, Venmo is only available in the US. If not specified, the SDK attempts to detect the buyer's country. |
amount | no | string. The transaction amount as a string, for
example, |
findEligibleMethods returns a promise that resolves to an EligiblePaymentMethods object with methods to check and retrieve payment method information.
The returned object provides these methods:
isEligible(method) - Check if a specific payment method is availablegetDetails(method) - Get additional information about a payment methodCheck payment method eligibility with default settings or specific transaction parameters, then use the results to conditionally display payment buttons.
// Check with default settings
const paymentMethods = await sdkInstance.findEligibleMethods();
// Check with specific currency and amount
const paymentMethods = await sdkInstance.findEligibleMethods({
currencyCode: "USD",
countryCode: "US",
amount: "125.00",
});
// Use the eligibility results
if (paymentMethods.isEligible("paypal")) {
// Show PayPal button
}
if (paymentMethods.isEligible("paylater")) {
const details = paymentMethods.getDetails("paylater");
// Show Pay Later button with product-specific messaging
}paymentMethods.isEligible(method)Check whether a specific payment method is available for the current transaction.
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
method | yes | string. The payment method identifier to check. Supported values:
|
isEligible returns true if the payment method is available, or false otherwise.
Check individual payment methods and conditionally show their buttons based on availability.
// Check individual payment methods
const canUsePayPal = paymentMethods.isEligible("paypal");
const canUseVenmo = paymentMethods.isEligible("venmo");
// Conditionally show buttons
if (paymentMethods.isEligible("venmo")) {
document.getElementById("venmo-button").style.display = "block";
}paymentMethods.getDetails(method)Retrieve additional configuration details for a specific payment method. This is particularly useful for Pay Later and PayPal Credit, which require additional attributes for proper button rendering.
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
method | yes | string. The payment method to get details for. Currently returns details for:
|
getDetails returns an object with payment method-specific details. The structure varies by payment method.
For Pay Later:
{
productCode: string; // Example: "PAY_IN_4"
countryCode: string; // Example: "US"
}For PayPal Credit:
{
countryCode: string; // Example: "US"
}Retrieve Pay Later product details and use them to configure the button component.
// Get Pay Later configuration
const payLaterDetails = paymentMethods.getDetails("paylater");
const button = document.querySelector("paylater-button");
button.productCode = payLaterDetails.productCode;
button.countryCode = payLaterDetails.countryCode;
// Get PayPal Credit configuration
const creditDetails = paymentMethods.getDetails("credit");Payment sessions manage the complete payment flow from initiation through completion. Each payment method has its own session creation method that returns a session object with methods to start and control the payment process.
sdkInstance.createPayPalOneTimePaymentSession(options)Create a payment session for one-time PayPal payments. This session handles the complete PayPal Checkout flow, including payment approval, shipping address changes, and order updates.
The options object configures callbacks that handle different stages of the payment flow. These callbacks allow you to respond to buyer actions and update your order accordingly.
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
onApprove | yes | function(data). Called when the buyer approves the payment in the PayPal flow. This is where you should capture or authorize the payment on your server. The function receives a data object containing:
This function can return a promise if you need to perform async operations like capturing the payment. |
onCancel | no | function(data). Called when the buyer cancels the payment flow by closing the PayPal window or selecting cancel. The data object contains:
Use this callback to:
|
onError | no | function(error). Called when an error occurs during the payment flow. This includes network errors, validation errors, or payment failures. The error object contains:
Use this to display user-friendly error messages and log errors for debugging. |
onShippingAddressChange | no | function(data). Called when the buyer changes their shipping address within the PayPal flow. This allows you to update shipping costs or restrict certain addresses. The data object contains:
Return a promise to update the order with new shipping costs. If you reject the promise, the address change will be rejected. |
onShippingOptionsChange | no | function(data). Called when the buyer selects a different shipping option, for example, standard or express shipping. The data object contains:
Return a promise to update the order total with the new shipping cost. |
orderId | no | string. An existing PayPal order ID to use for this session. This allows you to create the order on your server before starting the payment flow (eager order creation). If not provided, you'll pass an order creation function to the
|
commit | no | boolean. Controls the final button text in the PayPal flow:
Default: |
savePayment | no | boolean. Saves the customer's payment method during
purchase. Set to |
createPayPalOneTimePaymentSession returns a PaymentSession object with methods to control the payment flow.
interface PaymentSession {
start(options?: StartOptions, orderPromise: Promise): Promise<void>;
hasReturned(): boolean;
resume(): Promise<void>;
}Create a PayPal payment session with handlers for approval, shipping changes, cancellation, and errors.
const paypalSession = sdkInstance.createPayPalOneTimePaymentSession({
onApprove: async (data) => {
// Capture the payment on your server
const response = await fetch(`/api/orders/${data.orderId}/capture`, {
method: "POST",
});
if (response.ok) {
// Payment successful
window.location.href = "/order/complete";
} else {
throw new Error("Capture failed");
}
},
onShippingAddressChange: async (data) => {
// Calculate new shipping cost based on address
const shippingCost = await calculateShipping(data.shippingAddress);
// Update the order with new shipping
return fetch(`/api/orders/${data.orderId}/update-shipping`, {
method: "PATCH",
body: JSON.stringify({ shippingCost }),
});
},
onCancel: (data) => {
console.log("Payment cancelled", data);
// Re-enable checkout button
document.getElementById("checkout-btn").disabled = false;
},
onError: (error) => {
console.error("Payment error:", error);
// Show error message to buyer
showErrorMessage("Payment failed. Please try again.");
},
});sdkInstance.createPayPalSavePaymentSession(options)Create a session for saving PayPal as a payment method for future use (vaulting). This allows buyers to save their PayPal account for faster checkout in future purchases.
The parameters and usage are identical to createPayPalOneTimePaymentSession, except the onApprove callback receives a billingToken instead of requiring immediate payment capture.
Save the buyer's PayPal account as a payment method for future purchases.
const saveSession = sdkInstance.createPayPalSavePaymentSession({
onApprove: async (data) => {
// Save the billing token to your customer's profile
await savePaymentMethod({
customerId: currentUser.id,
billingToken: data.billingToken,
type: "paypal",
});
showSuccess("PayPal saved for future purchases");
},
});sdkInstance.createVenmoOneTimePaymentSession(options)Create a payment session for Venmo payments (US only). Venmo provides a mobile-optimized payment experience for US buyers using their Venmo balance or linked payment methods.
The parameters are identical to createPayPalOneTimePaymentSession. Venmo sessions support the same callbacks and flow options.
Create a Venmo payment session and capture the payment on approval.
const venmoSession = sdkInstance.createVenmoOneTimePaymentSession({
onApprove: async (data) => {
// Capture the Venmo payment
await captureOrder(data.orderId);
},
});sdkInstance.createPayLaterOneTimePaymentSession(options)Create a session for Pay Later financing options. Pay Later allows buyers to pay in installments (like Pay in 4) or over time with longer-term financing.
The parameters are identical to createPayPalOneTimePaymentSession. Pay Later availability depends on transaction amount and buyer eligibility.
Create a Pay Later session and configure the button with product-specific details from eligibility results.
const payLaterSession = sdkInstance.createPayLaterOneTimePaymentSession({
onApprove: async (data) => {
await captureOrder(data.orderId);
// Buyer has been approved for Pay Later financing
},
});
// Configure the Pay Later button with product details
const details = paymentMethods.getDetails("paylater");
const button = document.querySelector("paylater-button");
button.productCode = details.productCode;
button.countryCode = details.countryCode;sdkInstance.createPayPalCreditOneTimePaymentSession(options)Create a session for PayPal Credit payments (US only). PayPal Credit offers buyers a reusable line of credit for purchases.
sdkInstance.createPayPalSubscriptionSession(options)Create a payment session for PayPal subscription payments. Use subscriptions when buyers need recurring billing — for example, membership fees, software licenses, or regular service plans.
Before creating a subscription session, create a subscription plan using the Subscriptions API. You'll create a subscription for the buyer using this Plan ID when the buyer initiates checkout.
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
onApprove | yes | function(data) — Called when the buyer approves the subscription. The data object includes:
|
onCancel | no | function(data) — Called when the buyer cancels the
subscription flow. The data object contains
|
onError | no | function(error) — Called when an error occurs during
the subscription flow. The error object contains |
createPayPalSubscriptionSession returns a subscription session object with a start(options?, subscriptionPromise) method. The subscriptionPromise must resolve to { subscriptionId: string } containing your PayPal subscription ID.
Create a subscription session, handle approval with server-side activation, and start the flow when the buyer clicks the subscribe button.
const subscriptionSession = sdkInstance.createPayPalSubscriptionSession({
onApprove: async (data) => {
console.log("Subscription approved:", data.subscriptionId);
// Record the subscription on your server
await fetch("/api/subscriptions/activate", {
method: "POST",
headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
body: JSON.stringify({ subscriptionId: data.subscriptionId }),
});
window.location.href = "/subscription/success";
},
onCancel: (data) => {
console.log("Subscription cancelled");
document.getElementById("subscribe-button").disabled = false;
},
onError: (error) => {
console.error("Subscription error:", error.code, error.message);
},
});
document.getElementById("subscribe-button").addEventListener("click", () => {
subscriptionSession.start(
{ presentationMode: "auto" },
Promise.resolve({ subscriptionId: "YOUR_SUBSCRIPTION_ID" }),
);
});sdkInstance.createGooglePayOneTimePaymentSession()Create a session for Google Pay payments. The Google Pay session integrates with the Google Pay API and handles PayPal order confirmation.
Google Pay requires the googlepay-payments component and the Google Pay
JavaScript SDK. Load both before
calling createGooglePayOneTimePaymentSession. Enable Google Pay in your
PayPal sandbox and production account settings before going live.
createGooglePayOneTimePaymentSession synchronously returns a GooglePaySession object with these methods:
googlePaySession.formatConfigForPaymentRequest(config)Format the Google Pay configuration for the Google Pay API. Before calling formatConfigForPaymentRequest, use sdkInstance.findEligibleMethods() to check eligibility and retrieve the raw configuration, then pass the .config property from paymentMethods.getDetails("googlepay"):
const paymentMethods = await sdkInstance.findEligibleMethods({
currencyCode: "USD",
});
const googlePayPaymentMethodDetails = paymentMethods.getDetails("googlepay");
const googlePayConfig = googlePaySession.formatConfigForPaymentRequest(
googlePayPaymentMethodDetails.config,
);| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
config | yes | object. The config property from paymentMethods.getDetails("googlepay"). |
formatConfigForPaymentRequest returns a formatted configuration object:
| Property | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
allowedPaymentMethods | array | Payment method configuration for the Google Pay API |
merchantInfo | object | PayPal merchant information for Google Pay |
apiVersion | number | Google Pay API version |
apiVersionMinor | number | Google Pay API minor version |
countryCode | string | Two-letter ISO 3166-1 country code |
googlePaySession.confirmOrder(options)Use the payment data from Google Pay to confirm the PayPal order. Call this inside the onPaymentAuthorized callback.
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
orderId | yes | string. The PayPal order ID created on your server. |
paymentMethodData | yes | object. The payment method data from the Google Pay authorization response (paymentData.paymentMethodData). |
confirmOrder returns a promise that resolves to { status }:
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
APPROVED | Order confirmed and ready to capture. |
PAYER_ACTION_REQUIRED | 3D Secure authentication required before capture. |
Set up a complete Google Pay integration, from eligibility checking and configuration through payment authorization and order confirmation.
const sdkInstance = await window.paypal.createInstance({
clientId: "YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
components: ["googlepay-payments"],
pageType: "checkout",
});
// Check eligibility before setting up Google Pay
const paymentMethods = await sdkInstance.findEligibleMethods({
currencyCode: "USD",
});
if (paymentMethods.isEligible("googlepay")) {
const googlePayPaymentMethodDetails = paymentMethods.getDetails("googlepay");
// Create Google Pay session and format config
const googlePaySession = sdkInstance.createGooglePayOneTimePaymentSession();
const googlePayConfig = googlePaySession.formatConfigForPaymentRequest(
googlePayPaymentMethodDetails.config,
);
// Initialize Google Pay client
const paymentsClient = new google.payments.api.PaymentsClient({
environment: "TEST", // Use "PRODUCTION" for live transactions
paymentDataCallbacks: {
onPaymentAuthorized: async (paymentData) => {
try {
const orderId = await createOrder();
const { status } = await googlePaySession.confirmOrder({
orderId,
paymentMethodData: paymentData.paymentMethodData,
});
if (status !== "PAYER_ACTION_REQUIRED") {
await captureOrder(orderId);
}
return { transactionState: "SUCCESS" };
} catch (err) {
return {
transactionState: "ERROR",
error: { message: err.message },
};
}
},
},
});
// Check readiness and render button
const { result } = await paymentsClient.isReadyToPay({
allowedPaymentMethods: googlePayConfig.allowedPaymentMethods,
apiVersion: googlePayConfig.apiVersion,
apiVersionMinor: googlePayConfig.apiVersionMinor,
});
if (result) {
const button = paymentsClient.createButton({
onClick: () => {
paymentsClient.loadPaymentData({
...googlePayConfig,
transactionInfo: {
countryCode: googlePayConfig.countryCode,
currencyCode: "USD",
totalPriceStatus: "FINAL",
totalPrice: "10.00",
},
callbackIntents: ["PAYMENT_AUTHORIZATION"],
});
},
});
document.getElementById("google-pay-container").appendChild(button);
}
}sdkInstance.createApplePayOneTimePaymentSession()Create a session for Apple Pay payments. The Apple Pay session integrates with the browser's native ApplePaySession API and handles merchant validation and order confirmation.
Apple Pay requires: - The applepay-payments component - The Apple Pay
JavaScript SDK - An
HTTPS connection - A merchant domain registration with PayPal Apple Pay is
available in Safari on Apple devices only.
createApplePayOneTimePaymentSession returns a promise that resolves to an Apple Pay session object with these methods:
applePaySession.config()Fetch the Apple Pay merchant configuration from PayPal.
config returns a promise that resolves to:
| Property | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
merchantCapabilities | string[] | Merchant capabilities for the Apple Pay payment request, for example, ["supports3DS"] |
supportedNetworks | string[] | Card networks the merchant accepts, for example, ["visa", "masterCard", "amex"] |
applePaySession.validateMerchant(options)Complete Apple Pay merchant validation. Call this inside the onvalidatemerchant event handler of the browser's ApplePaySession.
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
validationUrl | yes | string. The validation URL from the onvalidatemerchant event (event.validationURL). |
validateMerchant returns a promise that resolves to { merchantSession }. Pass merchantSession to applePaySession.completeMerchantValidation().
applePaySession.confirmOrder(options)Confirm the PayPal order using the payment token from Apple Pay. Call this inside the onpaymentauthorized event handler.
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
orderId | yes | string. The PayPal order ID created on your server. |
token | yes | object. The Apple Pay payment token from event.payment.token. |
billingContact | no | object. The buyer's billing contact from event.payment.billingContact. |
shippingContact | no | object. The buyer's shipping contact from event.payment.shippingContact. |
Build an ApplePayPaymentRequest to pass to the browser's new ApplePaySession():
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
countryCode | Merchant country code, for example, "US" |
currencyCode | Transaction currency code, for example, "USD" |
merchantCapabilities | From applePaySession.config() |
supportedNetworks | From applePaySession.config() |
requiredBillingContactFields | Array of required billing fields: "name", "phone", "email", "postalAddress" |
requiredShippingContactFields | Array of required shipping fields, or empty array if no shipping needed |
total | Object with label (string), amount (string), and type ("final" or "pending") |
Set up a complete Apple Pay integration, including eligibility checking, merchant validation, payment authorization, and order confirmation.
const sdkInstance = await window.paypal.createInstance({
clientId: "YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
components: ["applepay-payments"],
pageType: "checkout",
});
// Create Apple Pay session
const paypalApplePaySession = sdkInstance.createApplePayOneTimePaymentSession();
// Get merchant configuration
const paymentMethods = await sdkInstance.findEligibleMethods({
currencyCode: "USD",
});
if (paymentMethods.isEligible("applepay")) {
const applePayPaymentMethodDetails =
paymentMethods.getDetails("applepay");
setupApplePayButton(sdkInstance, applePayPaymentMethodDetails);
// Display Apple Pay button
document.getElementById("apple-pay-container").innerHTML =
'<apple-pay-button buttonstyle="black" type="buy" locale="en"></apple-pay-button>';
document.querySelector("apple-pay-button").addEventListener("click", async () => {
const paymentRequest = {
countryCode: "US",
currencyCode: "USD",
merchantCapabilities,
supportedNetworks,
requiredBillingContactFields: ["name", "postalAddress"],
requiredShippingContactFields: [],
total: {
label: "Your Store",
amount: "25.00",
type: "final",
},
};
const applePaySession = new ApplePaySession(4, paymentRequest);
applePaySession.onvalidatemerchant = async (event) => {
try {
const { merchantSession } = await paypalApplePaySession.validateMerchant({
validationUrl: event.validationURL,
});
applePaySession.completeMerchantValidation(merchantSession);
} catch (err) {
console.error("Merchant validation failed:", err);
applePaySession.abort();
}
};
applePaySession.onpaymentauthorized = async (event) => {
try {
const orderId = await createOrder();
await paypalApplePaySession.confirmOrder({
orderId,
token: event.payment.token,
billingContact: event.payment.billingContact,
shippingContact: event.payment.shippingContact,
});
await captureOrder(orderId);
applePaySession.completePayment({
status: ApplePaySession.STATUS_SUCCESS,
});
} catch (err) {
console.error("Payment failed:", err);
applePaySession.completePayment({
status: ApplePaySession.STATUS_FAILURE,
});
}
};
applePaySession.oncancel = () => {
console.log("Apple Pay cancelled");
};
applePaySession.begin();
});sdkInstance.createFastlane()Create a Fastlane instance for accelerated guest checkout. Fastlane enables one-click checkout for recognized guests.
createFastlane returns a promise that resolves to a Fastlane instance.
Initialize a Fastlane instance for accelerated guest checkout.
const fastlane = await sdkInstance.createFastlane();
// Use fastlane instance for guest checkout accelerationsdkInstance.createPayPalMessages(options?)Display PayPal Messages to show financing options and promotional messaging to buyers. These messages dynamically update based on the transaction amount and buyer eligibility.
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
amount | no | number. The product or cart amount to display messaging for. Messages update dynamically based on this amount. |
placement | no | string. The page placement context for the messages. This affects message format and content. Values: |
style | no | object. Visual styling options for the messages, including layout and logo configuration. |
createPayPalMessages returns a PayPalMessagesInstance object with fetchContent(options?) and createLearnMore(options?) methods.
messagesInstance.fetchContent(options?)Fetch message content from PayPal and render it in all <paypal-messages> components on the page.
| Option | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
amount | no | string. Transaction amount with up to 2 decimal places, for example, "125.00". Affects which financing offers are displayed. |
currencyCode | no | string. Three-letter ISO 4217 currency code, for example, "USD". |
logoPosition | no | string. Where to place the PayPal logo. Values: LEFT (default), RIGHT, TOP, INLINE. Note: MONOGRAM logo type requires LEFT; TEXT logo type requires INLINE. |
logoType | no | string. PayPal branding style. Values: WORDMARK (default), MONOGRAM, TEXT. |
textColor | no | string. Message text color. Values: BLACK (default), WHITE, MONOCHROME. |
onContentReady | no | function. Called when content arrives from the server. Takes precedence over onReady. |
onTemplateReady | no | function. Called when content is served from local cache. Takes precedence over onReady. |
onReady | no | function. Called when content is ready from either cache or server. Used when neither onContentReady nor onTemplateReady is specified. |
messagesInstance.createLearnMore(options?)Initialize a Learn more presentation that provides additional financing details when buyers select the Learn more link in a message.
| Option | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
amount | no | string. The transaction amount to display in the Learn more presentation. |
presentationMode | no | string. How the Learn more content is shown. Values: AUTO (default), MODAL, POPUP, REDIRECT. |
onApply | no | function. Called when the buyer selects Apply in the Learn more presentation. |
onCalculate | no | function. Called when the buyer enters a value in the amount input field. |
onShow | no | function. Called when the Learn more presentation opens. |
onClose | no | function. Called when the Learn more presentation closes. |
Customize message appearance using these CSS properties on the <paypal-messages> element:
| Property | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
--paypal-message-font-size | Font size in px, clamped to 10px–16px. | 14px |
--paypal-message-text-align | Text alignment. Values: left, right, center. | left |
Initialize the SDK with the messages component, render financing messages with styling options, and set up a Learn More modal.
const sdkInstance = await window.paypal.createInstance({
clientId: "YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
components: ["paypal-messages"],
});
const messagesInstance = sdkInstance.createPayPalMessages();
// Render message with style options
messagesInstance.fetchContent({
amount: "199.99",
currencyCode: "USD",
logoPosition: "LEFT",
logoType: "WORDMARK",
textColor: "BLACK",
onContentReady: () => {
document.getElementById("paypal-message-container").style.display = "block";
},
});
// Optional: create a Learn More presentation
const learnMore = messagesInstance.createLearnMore({
amount: "199.99",
presentationMode: "MODAL",
onShow: () => console.log("Learn more opened"),
onClose: () => console.log("Learn more closed"),
});Add the <paypal-messages> web component to your HTML and customize its appearance with CSS custom properties.
<!-- PayPal Messages web component with CSS custom properties -->
<paypal-messages
style="--paypal-message-font-size: 14px; --paypal-message-text-align: left;"
></paypal-messages>paymentSession.start(options?, orderPromise)Start the payment user experience. start opens the payment interface using the specified presentation mode and begins the checkout flow.
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
options | no | object. Configuration for how the payment UI is presented. |
options.presentationMode | no | string. Controls how the payment interface is displayed to the buyer. Available modes:
Default: The SDK will automatically fall back to alternative modes if the requested mode is unavailable. |
options.autoRedirect | no | object. Configuration for redirect mode behavior.
Only applies when using |
options.fullPageOverlay | no | object. Controls the background overlay when using popup mode.
Default: |
options.loadingScreen | no | object. Customize the loading screen text.
|
orderPromise | yes | promise. A promise that creates or retrieves the
PayPal order. This promise should resolve to an object containing the
The order creation can happen asynchronously while the payment UI is loading, improving perceived performance. |
For most presentation modes, start returns a promise that resolves when the payment flow completes or is cancelled.
For redirect mode with autoRedirect.enabled: false, start returns the redirect URL:
Promise<{ redirectURL: string }>Start the payment flow using different presentation modes, including auto mode, redirect with manual URL handling, and a fallback pattern for incompatible browsers.
// Basic usage with auto mode
await paymentSession.start(
{ presentationMode: "auto" },
createOrder(), // Returns Promise<{orderId: string}>
);
// Redirect mode with manual handling
const { redirectURL } = await paymentSession.start(
{
presentationMode: "redirect",
autoRedirect: { enabled: false },
},
createOrder(),
);
if (redirectURL) {
// Manually redirect the buyer to a new tab
// Only recommended for use cases where the v6 SDK is being wrapped in an iframe
// Or usage with redirect flow for webview use cases
window.location.href = redirectURL;
}
// Fallback pattern for incompatible browsers
const modes = [
{ mode: "popup", errorCode: "ERR_DEV_UNABLE_TO_OPEN_POPUP" },
{ mode: "modal", errorCode: null },
];
for (const { mode, errorCode } of modes) {
try {
await paymentSession.start({ presentationMode: mode }, createOrder());
break; // Success
} catch (error) {
if (errorCode && error.code === errorCode) {
continue; // Try next mode
}
throw error; // Unexpected error
}
}paymentSession.hasReturned()Check if the current page load is a return from a redirect payment flow. Use hasReturned on page load to detect and resume interrupted payment sessions.
hasReturned returns true if the buyer is returning from a PayPal redirect, or false otherwise.
Detect whether the buyer is returning from a redirect flow, and resume the payment session to trigger the original callbacks.
// Runs on page load when SDK has finished downloading
async function onPayPalWebSdkLoaded() {
try {
const sdkInstance = await window.paypal.createInstance({
clientId: "YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
components: ["paypal-payments"],
pageType: "checkout",
});
const paypalPaymentSession = sdkInstance.createPayPalOneTimePaymentSession(
paymentSessionOptions,
);
// Check to see if Buyer is returning from PayPal
if (paypalPaymentSession.hasReturned()) {
// Original callbacks will be triggered
await paypalPaymentSession.resume();
} else {
configurePayPalButton(paypalPaymentSession);
}
} catch (error) {
console.error(error);
}
}paymentSession.resume()Resume a payment session after returning from a redirect flow. resume continues the payment process and triggers the appropriate callbacks based on the payment outcome.
resume returns a promise that resolves when the session is successfully resumed.
Callbacks allow you to respond to events during the payment flow. Each callback receives specific data about the event and can optionally return a promise to perform asynchronous operations.
onApprove(data)The SDK calls this function when the buyer successfully approves the payment. This is where you should capture or authorize the payment on your server.
The callback receives a data object with the following properties:
| Property | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
orderId | string | The PayPal order ID that was approved. Use this to capture the payment on your server. |
payerId | string | The buyer's PayPal payer ID. This identifies the PayPal account used for payment. |
paymentId | string | undefined | Legacy payment ID for backwards compatibility. Only present in certain flows. |
billingToken | string | undefined | Token for saving payment method. Only present when using save payment sessions. |
The callback can optionally return a promise. If a promise is returned, the SDK waits for it to resolve before completing the flow.
Capture the approved payment on your server and redirect the buyer to a success page.
onApprove: async (data) => {
console.log("Payment approved for order:", data.orderId);
// Capture the payment on your server
const response = await fetch(`/api/orders/${data.orderId}/capture`, {
method: "POST",
headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
});
const captureData = await response.json();
if (captureData.status === "COMPLETED") {
// Redirect to success page
window.location.href = `/order/success?id=${data.orderId}`;
} else {
throw new Error("Payment capture failed");
}
};onCancel(data)The SDK calls this function when the buyer cancels the payment without completing it. This typically happens when the buyer closes the PayPal window or selects a cancel button.
| Property | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
orderId | string | undefined | The order ID if one was created before cancellation. May be undefined if cancelled before order creation. |
Track the abandoned checkout, notify the buyer, and re-enable the checkout button.
onCancel: (data) => {
console.log("Payment cancelled", data);
// Use your own analytics to track cancellation
// Always ensure this is a non-blocking call
analytics.track("checkout_abandoned", {
orderId: data.orderId,
timestamp: Date.now(),
});
// Show a message to the buyer
showMessage("Your payment was cancelled. Your cart items are still saved.");
// Re-enable the checkout button
document.getElementById("checkout-button").disabled = false;
};onError(error)The SDK calls this function when an error occurs during the payment flow. This includes network errors, validation failures, and payment processing errors.
The callback receives an error object with these properties:
| Property | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
code | string | A specific error code identifying the type of error. Use this for programmatic error handling. |
message | string | A human-readable error description. This may contain technical details not suitable for buyers. |
| Code | Description | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
ERR_INVALID_CLIENT_TOKEN | Client token is invalid or expired | Generate a new token and reinitialize |
ERR_DOMAIN_MISMATCH | Current domain doesn't match token | Verify domain configuration |
ERR_DEV_UNABLE_TO_OPEN_POPUP | Popup was blocked by browser | Fall back to modal or redirect mode |
ERR_FLOW_PAYMENT_HANDLER_BROWSER_INCOMPATIBLE | Payment handler not supported | Use traditional checkout flow |
INSTRUMENT_DECLINED | Payment method was declined | Suggest alternative payment method |
NETWORK_ERROR | Network request failed | Retry or check connection |
Handle different error types with user-friendly messages and appropriate recovery actions.
onError: (error) => {
console.error("Payment error:", error);
// Log to error tracking service
errorReporter.log(error);
// Show user-friendly message based on error code
let message;
switch (error.code) {
case "ERR_INVALID_CLIENT_TOKEN":
message = "Your session has expired. Please refresh and try again.";
setTimeout(() => location.reload(), 3000);
break;
case "INSTRUMENT_DECLINED":
message =
"Your payment was declined. Please try a different payment method.";
break;
case "NETWORK_ERROR":
message = "Connection lost. Please check your internet and try again.";
break;
default:
message = "Something went wrong. Please try again.";
}
showErrorMessage(message);
};onShippingAddressChange(data)The SDK calls this function when the buyer selects or changes their shipping address within the PayPal flow. Use this callback to update shipping costs, validate addresses, or apply location-based restrictions.
| Property | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
errors | object | Error messages you can display to the user in the Checkout UI |
errors.ADDRESS_ERROR | string | "Your order can't be shipped to this address." |
errors.COUNTRY_ERROR | string | "Your order can't be shipped to this country." |
errors.STATE_ERROR | string | "Your order can't be shipped to this state." |
errors.ZIP_ERROR | string | "Your order can't be shipped to this zip." |
orderId | string | The current order ID |
shippingAddress | object | The newly selected shipping address |
shippingAddress.city | string | City name |
shippingAddress.state | string | State or province code |
shippingAddress.countryCode | string | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code |
shippingAddress.postalCode | string | Postal or ZIP code |
Return a promise to update the order asynchronously. If the promise rejects, the address change will be rejected and the buyer must select a different address.
Validate the new shipping address, calculate updated shipping costs, and update the order on your server.
onShippingAddressChange: async (data) => {
const { errors, shippingAddress } = data;
// Check if we ship to this address
if (!isShippableLocation(shippingAddress)) {
// Reject the address change
throw new Error(errors.ADDRESS_ERROR);
}
// Calculate new shipping cost
const shippingCost = calculateShipping({
address: shippingAddress,
items: cartItems,
});
// Update the order with new shipping
const response = await fetch(`/api/orders/${data.orderId}/shipping`, {
method: "PATCH",
headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
body: JSON.stringify({
shippingAddress,
shippingCost,
}),
});
if (!response.ok) {
throw new Error("Failed to update shipping");
}
};onShippingOptionsChange(data)The SDK calls this function when the buyer selects a different shipping option, for example, standard or express delivery. Use this callback to update the order total with the selected shipping cost.
| Property | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
errors | object | Error messages you can display to the user in the Checkout UI |
errors.METHOD_UNAVAILABLE | string | "The shipping method you chose is unavailable. To continue, choose another way to get your order." |
errors.STORE_UNAVAILABLE | string | "Part of your order isn't available at this store." |
orderId | string | The current order ID |
selectedShippingOption | object | Details of the selected shipping option |
Handle a shipping option change by validating availability and updating the order total.
onShippingOptionsChange: async (data) => {
const { errors, selectedShippingOption } = data;
// disable store pickup
if (selectedShippingOption.type === "PICKUP") {
throw new Error(errors.STORE_UNAVAILABLE);
}
// Update order with new shipping option
await updateOrderShipping({
orderId: data.orderId,
shippingId: selectedShippingOption.id,
shippingCost: selectedShippingOption.amount.value,
});
};PayPal.js provides native web components for rendering payment buttons. These components automatically handle styling and accessibility while allowing customization through CSS variables.
paypal-buttonThe PayPal button web component renders a PayPal-branded button that buyers select to start the payment flow.
| Attribute | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
type | string | Controls the button label text. Different types are optimized for different contexts in your checkout flow. Values:
|
class | string | Applies a predefined color scheme to the button. Values:
|
Customize the button appearance using CSS custom properties:
| Variable | Description | Example values |
|---|---|---|
--paypal-button-border-radius | Border radius for the button | 4px, 20px, 50px |
--paypal-mark-border-radius | Border radius for the PayPal mark/logo | 4px, 8px |
Render PayPal buttons with different styles and labels, customize their appearance with CSS variables, and attach a click handler to start the payment flow.
<!-- Basic button -->
<paypal-button type="pay" class="paypal-gold"></paypal-button>
<!-- Initially hidden button -->
<paypal-button type="checkout" class="paypal-blue" hidden> </paypal-button>
<!-- Custom styled button -->
<style>
paypal-button {
--paypal-button-border-radius: 10px;
width: 100%;
max-width: 350px;
}
paypal-button.custom-style {
--paypal-button-border-radius: 25px;
}
</style>
<paypal-button type="pay" class="paypal-gold custom-style"></paypal-button>
<script>
// Attach click handler
const onClick = async () => {
try {
await paypalSession.start({ presentationMode: "auto" }, createOrder());
} catch (error) {
console.log(error);
}
};
document.querySelector("paypal-button").addEventListener("click", onClick);
</script>venmo-buttonThe Venmo button web component renders a Venmo-branded button for US buyers. The attributes and styling options are identical to <paypal-button>.
Render a Venmo-branded payment button.
<venmo-button type="pay" class="venmo-blue"></venmo-button>paylater-buttonThe Pay Later button component displays financing options to buyers. This button requires additional configuration based on the available Pay Later products.
| Attribute | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
productCode | string | The specific Pay Later product to display, for example, "PAY_IN_4". Get this from paymentMethods.getDetails('paylater'). |
countryCode | string | The country code for the Pay Later offer. Required for proper messaging display. |
Set the Pay Later button's product and country attributes using details from eligibility checking.
// Configure Pay Later button
const payLaterDetails = paymentMethods.getDetails("paylater");
const button = document.querySelector("paylater-button");
button.productCode = payLaterDetails.productCode;
button.countryCode = payLaterDetails.countryCode;
button.removeAttribute("hidden");paypal-credit-buttonThe PayPal Credit button component displays PayPal's credit offering for eligible buyers (US only).
| Attribute | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
countryCode | string | The country code for PayPal Credit availability. Required for proper display. |
Configure the PayPal Credit button with the country code from eligibility details.
const creditDetails = paymentMethods.getDetails("credit");
const button = document.querySelector("paypal-credit-button");
button.countryCode = creditDetails.countryCode;The JavaScript SDK v6 supports modern browsers. Check browser compatibility before initializing the SDK to ensure optimal user experience.
| Browser (web/mobile web) | Minimum Supported Version |
|---|---|
| Chrome | 69 |
| Safari | 12 |
| Firefox | 63 |
| Samsung Internet | 10 |
| Edge | 79 |
Use the window.isBrowserSupportedByPayPal() function to verify browser compatibility before initializing the SDK:
// Check browser compatibility
if (window.isBrowserSupportedByPayPal()) {
// Initialize PayPal SDK
const sdkInstance = await window.paypal.createInstance({
clientId: "YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
});
} else {
// Show fallback payment options or browser upgrade message
showBrowserNotSupportedMessage();
}Card fields let you embed inline card input components on your page for credit and debit card payments. Card fields keep buyers on your page for the entire payment experience. Card data flows through PayPal-hosted iframes, so your site never handles raw card numbers.
Card fields require the card-fields component. Check eligibility using
paymentMethods.isEligible("advanced_cards") before rendering the fields. For
PCI compliance requirements, see PCI DSS SAQ
A-EP.
sdkInstance.createCardFieldsOneTimePaymentSession()Create a card fields session for a one-time payment. The session provides methods to create individual card input components and submit the payment.
createCardFieldsOneTimePaymentSession returns a CardFieldsOneTimePaymentSession object with createCardFieldsComponent(options) and submit(orderId, options?) methods.
sdkInstance.createCardFieldsSavePaymentSession()Create a card fields session for saving a card payment method (vaulting) for future use. The session behaves the same as the one-time session.
cardSession.createCardFieldsComponent(options)Create an individual card field input component. The method returns an HTMLElement that you append directly to a DOM container.
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
type | yes | string. The card field to render. Values:
|
placeholder | no | string. Placeholder text shown inside the field when
empty, for example, |
style | no | object. CSS styles applied within the PayPal-hosted iframe. See Card field styling. |
createCardFieldsComponent returns an HTMLElement. Mount it to a container using appendChild() or equivalent.
const numberField = cardSession.createCardFieldsComponent({
type: "number",
placeholder: "Card number",
});
document.getElementById("card-number-container").appendChild(numberField);cardSession.submit(orderId, options?)Submit the card payment. This validates the card data, runs 3D Secure (3DS) authentication if required, and returns the payment outcome.
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
orderId | yes | string. The PayPal order ID created on your
server. Pass the string directly — do
not pass an object such as |
options.billingAddress | no | object. Billing address fields to include with the payment for risk and SCA purposes. Include at minimum the fields your risk strategy requires. Available fields: |
submit returns a promise that resolves to { data, state }:
| State | Description |
|---|---|
succeeded | Payment succeeded. data.orderId is the order ID to capture. data.liabilityShift indicates 3DS outcome. |
canceled | Buyer dismissed the 3D Secure modal. Display a non-blocking message and allow the buyer to retry. |
failed | Validation or processing failure. data.message may contain details. Show an error and allow retry. |
Pass a style object to createCardFieldsComponent() to customize card field appearance. Styles are applied within the PayPal-hosted iframe.
| Selector | When it applies |
|---|---|
input | The card input element |
.invalid | Applied when the field value fails validation |
:focus | Applied when the field has keyboard focus |
appearancebackgroundborderborderRadiusboxShadowcolordirectionfontfontFamilyfontSizefontSizeAdjustfontStretchfontStylefontVariantfontVariantAlternatesfontVariantCapsfontVariantEastAsianfontVariantLigaturesfontVariantNumericfontWeightheightletterSpacinglineHeightopacityoutlinepaddingpaddingBottompaddingLeftpaddingRightpaddingToptextShadowtransitionApply custom font styling and invalid-state colors to a card number field.
const numberField = cardSession.createCardFieldsComponent({
type: "number",
placeholder: "Card number",
style: {
input: {
fontSize: "16px",
lineHeight: "24px",
color: "#333333",
},
".invalid": {
color: "#e53e3e",
},
},
});Initialize the SDK, check card eligibility, create and mount card input fields, and handle payment submission with 3D Secure support.
async function onPayPalWebSdkLoaded() {
try {
const sdk = await window.paypal.createInstance({
clientId: "YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
components: ["card-fields"],
pageType: "checkout",
});
// Check eligibility before rendering
const paymentMethods = await sdk.findEligibleMethods({
currencyCode: "USD",
});
if (!paymentMethods.isEligible("advanced_cards")) {
return; // Fall back to other payment methods
}
// Create card fields session
const cardSession = sdk.createCardFieldsOneTimePaymentSession();
// Create and mount field components
const numberField = cardSession.createCardFieldsComponent({
type: "number",
placeholder: "Card number",
style: { input: { fontSize: "16px" } },
});
const expiryField = cardSession.createCardFieldsComponent({
type: "expiry",
placeholder: "MM/YY",
});
const cvvField = cardSession.createCardFieldsComponent({
type: "cvv",
placeholder: "CVV",
});
document.getElementById("card-number").appendChild(numberField);
document.getElementById("card-expiry").appendChild(expiryField);
document.getElementById("card-cvv").appendChild(cvvField);
// Handle submission
document
.getElementById("pay-button")
.addEventListener("click", async () => {
try {
const orderId = await createOrder();
const { data, state } = await cardSession.submit(orderId, {
billingAddress: { postalCode: "10001" },
});
switch (state) {
case "succeeded":
// 3DS may or may not have run; check liabilityShift
await captureOrder(data.orderId);
window.location.href = "/order/success";
break;
case "canceled":
// Buyer dismissed 3DS — allow retry without a new session
showMessage("Authentication cancelled. Please try again.");
break;
case "failed":
showMessage(
data?.message || "Payment failed. Check your card details.",
);
break;
}
} catch (err) {
console.error("Card payment error:", err);
showMessage("An unexpected error occurred. Please try again.");
}
});
} catch (err) {
console.error("SDK initialization failed:", err);
}
}Guest payments render a PayPal-hosted card form without requiring the buyer to create or log in to a PayPal account. The card form appears as an overlay on your page, handling card input and validation inside a PayPal-hosted environment.
Guest payments require the paypal-guest-payments component. Use the <paypal-basic-card-button> web component to trigger the payment flow.
sdkInstance.createPayPalGuestOneTimePaymentSession(options)Create a guest payment session for one-time card payments. This session manages the full card collection and payment authorization flow.
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
onApprove | yes | function(data). Called when the payment is approved.
Capture the order using
|
onComplete | yes | function(data). Called after |
onCancel | no | function(data). Called when the buyer closes the card form without completing payment. |
onError | no | function(error). Called when an unrecoverable error
occurs. The error object contains |
onWarn | no | function(data). Called when the buyer encounters a recoverable error after submitting the card form — for example, a card decline, name formatting error, or invalid address. The overlay stays open so the buyer can correct and retry. The data object contains:
|
onShippingAddressChange | no | function(data). Called when the buyer changes their shipping address. See onShippingAddressChange for the full data structure. |
onShippingOptionsChange | no | function(data). Called when the buyer selects a different shipping option. See onShippingOptionsChange for the full data structure. |
createPayPalGuestOneTimePaymentSession returns a guest payment session object with a start(options, orderPromise) method.
start(options, orderPromise) parameters| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
options.presentationMode | no | string. How the card form overlay is displayed. Values: auto (default), modal, popup, redirect. |
options.targetElement | no | HTMLElement. The element that triggered the session, used for overlay positioning. |
orderPromise | yes | Promise. A promise that resolves to { orderId: string }. |
Use these web components to render the guest payment button:
<paypal-basic-card-container>
<paypal-basic-card-button id="guest-card-button"> </paypal-basic-card-button>
</paypal-basic-card-container>Initialize the SDK, check card eligibility, set up a guest payment session with event handlers, and start the flow when the buyer clicks the card button.
const sdkInstance = await window.paypal.createInstance({
clientId: "YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
components: ["paypal-guest-payments"],
pageType: "checkout",
});
const paymentMethods = await sdkInstance.findEligibleMethods({
currencyCode: "USD",
});
if (paymentMethods.isEligible("card")) {
const guestPaymentSession =
await sdkInstance.createPayPalGuestOneTimePaymentSession({
onApprove: async (data) => {
const orderData = await captureOrder({ orderId: data.orderId });
console.log("Payment captured:", orderData);
},
onComplete: () => {
window.location.href = "/order/success";
},
onCancel: () => {
document.getElementById("guest-card-button").disabled = false;
},
onError: (error) => {
console.error("Payment error:", error.code, error.message);
},
onWarn: (data) => {
// Buyer encountered a recoverable error — overlay stays open for retry
console.warn("Payment warning:", data.code, data.message);
},
});
document
.getElementById("guest-card-button")
.addEventListener("click", async () => {
await guestPaymentSession.start(
{ presentationMode: "auto" },
createOrder(), // Returns Promise<{ orderId: string }>
);
});
}