Saleor Payment Processing
Before writing code
Fetch live docs:
- Web-search
site:docs.saleor.io transaction payment flow for the transaction-based payment model
- Web-search
site:docs.saleor.io payment app sync webhooks for payment App implementation patterns
- Web-search
site:docs.saleor.io transaction events CHARGE_REQUESTED for transaction event types
- Fetch
https://docs.saleor.io/docs/developer/payments and review the full payment lifecycle
- Web-search
site:docs.saleor.io refund transactionRequestAction for refund processing flow
- Fetch
https://docs.saleor.io/docs/developer/app-store/apps/stripe and review Stripe App integration patterns
Transaction Payment Flow
Saleor uses a transaction-based payment model (replacing the legacy Payment model):
| Step | Component | Description |
|---|
| 1. List gateways | checkout.availablePaymentGateways | Query available payment Apps for the checkout |
| 2. Initialize session | transactionInitialize | Send payment request to the payment App |
| 3. Process (if needed) | transactionProcess | Handle additional steps (3DS, redirect) |
| 4. Transaction events | Automatic | Payment App reports events via webhooks |
| 5. Complete checkout | checkoutComplete | Finalize order after successful payment |
The transaction flow is designed for asynchronous payment processing. The payment App controls the actual charge timing and reports results back via transaction events.
Transaction Events
Transaction events track the lifecycle of a payment:
Request Events (Saleor to Payment App)
| Event Type | Description |
|---|
AUTHORIZATION_REQUEST | Request to authorize (hold) funds |
CHARGE_REQUEST | Request to capture payment |
REFUND_REQUEST | Request to refund payment |
CANCEL_REQUEST | Request to void/cancel authorization |
Success Events (Payment App to Saleor)
| Event Type | Description |
|---|
AUTHORIZATION_SUCCESS | Funds successfully authorized |
CHARGE_SUCCESS | Payment successfully captured |
REFUND_SUCCESS | Refund successfully processed |
CANCEL_SUCCESS | Authorization successfully cancelled |
Failure Events (Payment App to Saleor)
| Event Type | Description |
|---|
AUTHORIZATION_FAILURE | Authorization failed |
CHARGE_FAILURE | Charge failed |
REFUND_FAILURE | Refund failed |
CANCEL_FAILURE | Cancellation failed |
Action Required Events
| Event Type | Description |
|---|
AUTHORIZATION_ACTION_REQUIRED | Additional customer action needed (e.g., 3DS) |
CHARGE_ACTION_REQUIRED | Additional step required to complete charge |
Fetch live docs for the complete TransactionEventTypeEnum -- additional event types may exist for pending states and information events.
Payment App Pattern
Payment processing in Saleor is handled by Apps that implement sync webhooks:
| Component | Description |
|---|
| Payment App | A Saleor App that handles payment gateway communication |
| Sync webhooks | Synchronous webhook calls from Saleor to the App |
| Transaction events | App reports payment status back to Saleor |
| Gateway config | Per-channel payment gateway configuration |
Key Sync Webhook Events
| Webhook Event | When Triggered | Expected Response |
|---|
PAYMENT_GATEWAY_INITIALIZE_SESSION | When storefront queries payment gateways | Gateway configuration and client-side data |
TRANSACTION_INITIALIZE_SESSION | On transactionInitialize mutation | Payment session data (e.g., client secret) |
TRANSACTION_PROCESS_SESSION | On transactionProcess mutation | Updated payment status and next actions |
TRANSACTION_CHARGE_REQUESTED | On transactionRequestAction with CHARGE | Charge result event |
TRANSACTION_REFUND_REQUESTED | On transactionRequestAction with REFUND | Refund result event |
TRANSACTION_CANCELATION_REQUESTED | On transactionRequestAction with CANCEL | Cancellation result event |
Payment App Implementation Pattern
A payment App must:
| Step | Description |
|---|
| 1. Register webhooks | Subscribe to the sync webhook events above |
| 2. Handle initialize | Create payment session with the gateway (e.g., Stripe PaymentIntent) |
| 3. Return session data | Send client-side data back (e.g., clientSecret for Stripe Elements) |
| 4. Handle process | Process additional steps and return updated status |
| 5. Report events | Use transactionEventReport to report async payment updates |
| 6. Handle actions | Process charge, refund, and cancel requests |
Transaction Actions
Staff and Apps can request actions on existing transactions:
| Action | Mutation | Description |
|---|
| Charge | transactionRequestAction with CHARGE | Capture authorized funds |
| Refund | transactionRequestAction with REFUND | Refund charged amount |
| Cancel | transactionRequestAction with CANCEL | Void authorization |
Manual Transaction Creation
For manual or offline payments:
| Mutation | Purpose |
|---|
transactionCreate | Create a transaction record manually |
transactionUpdate | Update transaction details |
transactionEventReport | Report payment events from external systems |
Refund Flow
Saleor implements a two-step refund process:
| Step | Mutation | Description |
|---|
| 1. Grant refund | orderGrantRefundCreate | Merchant decides refund amount or lines |
| 2. Process refund | transactionRequestAction with REFUND | Payment App processes the actual refund |
Grant Refund Options
| Option | Description |
|---|
| Amount-based | Specify a flat refund amount |
| Line-based | Specify order lines and quantities to refund |
| Shipping refund | Include shipping cost in the refund |
| Reason | Optional text reason for the refund |
The grant-then-process pattern allows merchants to review and approve refunds before the payment is actually reversed.
Legacy Payments (Deprecated)
| Legacy Mutation | Replacement |
|---|
checkoutPaymentCreate | transactionInitialize |
checkoutComplete (with payment data) | transactionProcess + checkoutComplete |
orderCapture | transactionRequestAction with CHARGE |
orderRefund | orderGrantRefundCreate + transactionRequestAction |
orderVoid | transactionRequestAction with CANCEL |
Legacy payment mutations are deprecated. All new integrations should use the transaction-based flow. Existing integrations should migrate to transactions.
Stripe Integration Pattern
The official Saleor Stripe App follows this flow:
| Step | Client | Server |
|---|
| 1. Initialize | Call transactionInitialize | App creates Stripe PaymentIntent |
| 2. Client secret | Receive data.clientSecret | -- |
| 3. Confirm | Use Stripe.js to confirm payment | -- |
| 4. Process | Call transactionProcess if needed | App checks PaymentIntent status |
| 5. Webhook | -- | Stripe webhook updates transaction |
Adyen Integration Pattern
The official Saleor Adyen App follows a similar pattern:
| Step | Client | Server |
|---|
| 1. Initialize | Call transactionInitialize | App creates Adyen session |
| 2. Session data | Receive Adyen Drop-in config | -- |
| 3. Submit | Use Adyen Web Components | -- |
| 4. Process | Call transactionProcess with result | App verifies with Adyen |
| 5. Webhook | -- | Adyen webhook updates transaction |
Best Practices
- Use the transaction-based flow for all new payment integrations (not legacy payments)
- Implement idempotency keys on
transactionInitialize to prevent duplicate charges
- Handle
ACTION_REQUIRED events for 3DS and redirect-based payment methods
- Use `tr
