How to Test Webhooks Using Stripe CLI

How to Test Webhooks Using Stripe CLI

Webhooks are a critical component of modern web applications, especially when integrating with payment systems like Stripe. They enable your application to receive real-time notifications about events such as successful payments, failed charges, or subscription updates. However, testing webhooks can be challenging, particularly when developing locally or in a staging environment. This guide will walk you through the process of testing webhooks using the Stripe CLI in a detailed and structured manner, ensuring you can handle any issues that arise.

What is Stripe CLI?

The Stripe Command Line Interface (CLI) is a powerful tool that allows developers to interact with Stripe directly from their terminal. It provides a suite of commands to manage Stripe resources, simulate payments, and, most importantly, test webhooks locally.

With the Stripe CLI, you can:

  • Forward Stripe webhook events to your local server.
  • Trigger test events to simulate real-world scenarios.
  • Debug and inspect webhook payloads.

Prerequisites

Before diving into testing webhooks, ensure you have the following set up:

  • Stripe Account: You need a Stripe account. If you don't have one, sign up at stripe.com.
  • Stripe CLI Installed: Download and install the Stripe CLI for your operating system from the official Stripe CLI documentation.
  • Local Development Server: You should have a local server running that can receive webhook requests (e.g., a Node.js, Python, or Ruby server).
  • Webhook Endpoint: Your server should have an endpoint (e.g., /webhook) that listens for incoming Stripe webhook events.

Step 1: Install and Authenticate Stripe CLI

Install the CLI:

  • Follow the installation instructions for your operating system from the Stripe CLI docs.

Authenticate the CLI:

  • Run the following command to log in to your Stripe account:
javascript

        stripe login

This will open a browser window where you can authenticate the CLI with your Stripe account. Once authenticated, the CLI will display a pairing code and confirm the login.

Step 2: Forward Webhooks to Your Local Server

The Stripe CLI allows you to forward webhook events from Stripe to your local server. This is especially useful for testing webhooks during development.

Start the Webhook Forwarding:

  • Run the following command to start forwarding webhooks:
javascript

        stripe listen --forward-to localhost:3000/webhook
  • Replace localhost:3000/webhook with the URL of your local webhook endpoint.

Capture the Webhook Secret:

  • When you run the stripe listen command, the CLI will display a webhook signing secret. This secret is used to verify that incoming webhooks are genuinely from Stripe. Make sure to copy and store this secret securely.
  • Example output:
javascript

        > Ready! Your webhook signing secret is whsec_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Important Note:

  • The webhook signing secret provided by the Stripe CLI is different from the one you use in production. When testing locally, you must use the secret provided by the CLI instead of your original production secret. This ensures that your local environment can correctly verify the webhook events forwarded by the CLI.

Verify the Webhook Signature:

  • In your server code, use the webhook signing secret to verify the authenticity of incoming webhook events. Here's an example in Node.js:
javascript

      const stripe = require('stripe')('sk_test_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx');
      const express = require('express');
      const app = express();
      // Use express.raw middleware to parse the raw request body
      app.post('/webhook', express.raw({ type: 'application/json' }), (request, response) => {
        const sig = request.headers['stripe-signature'];
        const webhookSecret = 'whsec_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'; 
        let event;
        try {
          event = stripe.webhooks.constructEvent(request.body, sig, webhookSecret);
        } catch (err) {
          return response.status(400).send(`Webhook Error: ${err.message}`);
        }
        // Handle the event
        switch (event.type) {
          case 'payment_intent.succeeded':
            const paymentIntent = event.data.object;
            console.log('PaymentIntent was successful!');
            break;
          case 'payment_method.attached':
            const paymentMethod = event.data.object;
            console.log('PaymentMethod was attached to a Customer!');
            break;
          // Handle other event types
          default:
            console.log(`Unhandled event type ${event.type}`);
        }
        response.json({ received: true });
      });
      app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Running on port 3000'));

Step 3: Trigger Test Webhook Events

Now that your local server is ready to receive webhooks, you can use the Stripe CLI to trigger test events.

List Available Events:

  • To see a list of all the events you can trigger, run:
javascript

         stripe trigger --list

Trigger a Test Event:

  • Use the stripe trigger command to simulate a specific event. For example, to trigger a payment_intent.succeeded event, run:
javascript

        stripe trigger payment_intent.succeeded
  • This will send a test webhook event to your local server. You should see the event being logged in your terminal and handled by your server.

Inspect the Event Payload:

The Stripe CLI will display the payload of the triggered event in your terminal. You can use this to debug and ensure your server is processing the event correctly.

Step 4: Debugging Webhooks

Testing webhooks can sometimes be challenging, especially if things don't work as expected. Here are some tips for debugging:

Check the CLI Logs:

  • The Stripe CLI logs all forwarded webhook events. Look for any errors or issues in the logs.

Verify the Webhook Signature:

  • Ensure that your server is correctly verifying the webhook signature using the signing secret provided by the CLI.

Use Stripe Dashboard:

  • The Stripe Dashboard provides a Webhooks section where you can view the history of webhook events and their responses. This can be helpful for debugging.

Test Different Events:

  • gger different types of events to ensure your server can handle all scenarios.

Step 5: Automate Testing (Optional)

If you want to automate your webhook testing, you can integrate the Stripe CLI into your CI/CD pipeline or write scripts to trigger events programmatically. For example, you can use a shell script to trigger multiple events in sequence:

javascript

        #!/bin/bash
        stripe trigger payment_intent.succeeded
        stripe trigger payment_intent.payment_failed
        stripe trigger customer.subscription.created

Step 6: Testing Webhooks with a Backend on Heroku

If your backend is hosted on Heroku, you can still use the Stripe CLI to test webhooks. Here's how:

Expose Your Local Server:

  • Use a tool like ngrok to expose your local server to the internet. This will allow Stripe to send webhook events to your local machine.
javascript

        ngrok http 3000
  • This will provide you with a public URL (e.g., https://xxxxxxxx.ngrok.io) that you can use as your webhook endpoint.

Update Your Webhook Endpoint:

  • In the Stripe Dashboard, update your webhook endpoint to use the ngrok URL (e.g., https://xxxxxxxx.ngrok.io/webhook).

Forward Webhooks:

  • Use the Stripe CLI to forward webhooks to your local server:
javascript

        stripe listen --forward-to https://xxxxxxxx.ngrok.io/webhook

Trigger Test Events:

  • Use the stripe trigger command to send test events to your Heroku backend.

Step 7: Handling Windows Defender or Antivirus Issues (Windows Users)

If you're using Windows and encounter issues with Windows Defender or other antivirus software blocking the Stripe CLI (stripe.exe), you'll need to add the Stripe CLI as an exemption to allow it to run. Here's how:

Open Windows Security:

  • Press Windows + I to open Settings.
  • Go to Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection.

Add an Exclusion:

  • Under Virus & Threat Protection, click on Manage Settings.
  • Scroll down to Exclusions and click Add or Remove Exclusions.
  • Click Add an Exclusion and choose Folder.
  • Navigate to the directory where the Stripe CLI is installed (e.g., C:/Program Files/Stripe CLI) and add it as an exclusion.

Restart the Stripe CLI:

  • After adding the exclusion, restart the Stripe CLI and try running your commands again.

Common Errors and How to Resolve Them

Webhook Signature Verification Failed:

  • Cause: The webhook signing secret used in your server code does not match the one provided by the Stripe CLI.
  • Solution: Ensure you are using the correct webhook signing secret provided by the CLI.

Webhook Endpoint Not Reachable:

  • Cause: Your local server is not running, or the endpoint is incorrect.
  • Solution: Verify that your server is running and the endpoint URL is correct.

Event Not Handled:

  • Cause: Your server code does not handle the specific event type.
  • Solution: Add a case in your event handling logic to process the event.

Payload Parsing Error:

  • Cause: The request body is not being parsed correctly.
  • Solution: Ensure you are using the correct middleware to parse the raw request body.

Conclusion

Testing webhooks is a critical part of building robust applications with Stripe. The Stripe CLI makes this process seamless by allowing you to forward webhooks to your local server and trigger test events. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your webhook handling logic is reliable and ready for production.

Remember to:

  • Use the stripe listen command to forward webhooks.
  • Use the webhook signing secret provided by the CLI instead of your original production secret.
  • Verify webhook signatures using the signing secret.
  • Trigger test events with stripe trigger.
  • Debug issues using the CLI logs and Stripe Dashboard.

With these tools and techniques, you'll be well-equipped to handle Stripe webhooks like a pro. Happy coding!

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