The one page PayPal Express Checkout guide (using cURL)

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One page PayPal Express Checkout guide using cURL

To integrate with Express Checkout have your API credentials ready and read on.

Step 1 - Send your transaction data to PayPal (your API credentials are required for safety):

curl https://api-3t.paypal.com/nvp \
  -d method=SetExpressCheckout \
  -d amt=1.00 \
  -d returnurl=http://example.com/success \
  -d cancelurl=http://example.com/cancel \
  -d version=92.0 \
  -d user=${API_USER} \
  -d pwd=${API_PWD} \
  -d signature=${API_SIGNATURE} 

Step 2 - A query string formatted response will be returned, e.g.:

TOKEN=EC-6V0052576B2719609&TIMESTAMP=2012-07-18T03:44:53Z&CORRELATIONID=1b1f2f903d3e7&ACK=Success&VERSION=47.0&BUILD=3300093

Step 3 - Copy the token value from the response, add it to the following URL, then redirect your browser there:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_express-checkout&token=

PayPal will send the browser back to the redirecturl you originally provided. URL parameters for PayerId and Token are appended as query params. Save these!

Step 4 - Using the token and payerid you can request the transaction details:

curl https://api-3t.sandbox.paypal.com/nvp \
  -d method=GetExpressCheckoutDetails \
  -d token=${RETURNED_TOKEN} \
  -d payerid=${RETURNED_PAYERID} \
  -d user=${API_USER} \
  -d pwd=${API_PWD} \
  -d signature=${API_SIGNATURE}

Step 5 - Finally, commit the transaction and you've completed your payment:

curl https://api-3t.sandbox.paypal.com/nvp \
  -d method=DoExpressCheckoutPayment \
  -d token=${RETURNED_TOKEN} \
  -d payerid=${RETURNED_PAYERID} \
  -d amt=1.00 \
  -d paymentaction=Sale \
  -d version=92.0 \
  -d user=${API_USER} \
  -d pwd=${API_PWD} \
  -d signature=${API_SIGNATURE}

That's it! You've just completed a basic transaction with Express Checkout. Now see what you can do with all of the advanced settings.