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Stripe Payment Element in React & Spring Boot

· 4 min read
Sahil Phondekar
Sahil Phondekar
Sr. Software Engineer @Everestek

Accepting online payments efficiently is essential for any modern business. Stripe offers a Payment Element, a prebuilt UI component that simplifies checkout by supporting multiple payment methods in a single integration. In this blog, we’ll walk through integrating Stripe’s Payment Element with a React frontend and a Spring Boot backend, ensuring a smooth and secure payment experience.

Why Use Stripe's Payment Element?​

The Payment Element is a powerful tool that provides:

Multiple payment method support – Accepts credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and local payment methods.
Prebuilt UI – Designed to be user-friendly and easy to integrate.
Automatic updates – Ensures compliance with the latest security and payment regulations.
Dynamic behavior – Adjusts based on the user's location and preferred payment options.

Whether you are building an e-commerce store, subscription service, or digital marketplace, Stripe’s Payment Element simplifies the entire payment process.

Prerequisites for Integration​

Before integrating Stripe, ensure you have:

  • A Stripe account – You can sign up at Stripe.
  • A React frontend – To display the payment form and handle user interactions.
  • A Spring Boot backend – To communicate securely with Stripe’s API.
  • A Stripe API key – Found in your Stripe dashboard, which enables backend communication with Stripe.

Step 1: Setting Up Stripe in Your React Application​

To begin, install the required Stripe packages in your React app. The frontend will use Stripe’s Elements provider, which wraps your checkout form and provides the necessary Stripe context.

The Payment Element dynamically loads different payment methods based on the user’s location and previously used payment options, making the checkout experience seamless.

Step 2: Setting Up the Backend with Spring Boot​

Your Spring Boot backend is responsible for securely handling payment requests. It will:

  1. Generate a PaymentIntent – This step involves communicating with Stripe’s API to create a payment session. The backend will return a clientSecret, which the frontend will use to initialize the Payment Element.
  2. Store transaction details – Keeping a record of payments ensures that you can track transactions, issue refunds, and manage disputes.
  3. Handle webhooks (optional but recommended) – Webhooks allow your application to listen for events such as successful payments, failed transactions, or refunds. This improves reliability by ensuring that payments are processed correctly even if the user closes their browser before seeing the confirmation page.

Step 3: Integrating the Payment Element in React​

Once the backend is ready, the frontend will:

  1. Request a client secret from the backend when a user initiates a payment.
  2. Display the Payment Element in a secure, responsive payment form.
  3. Handle form submission and confirmation – Once the user submits their payment, Stripe processes the transaction and redirects them to a success or failure page.

Stripe handles most of the heavy lifting, including validating payment details, processing the transaction, and securely handling sensitive data.

Step 4: Confirming the Payment​

Once a payment is submitted, Stripe takes over. Depending on the payment method, the user may need to complete additional authentication steps, such as 3D Secure for card payments.

After the payment is processed, Stripe will:

Redirect the user to a success page if the payment is completed.
Display an error message if there are issues with the payment (e.g., insufficient funds, incorrect card details).
Trigger a webhook event (if enabled) to notify your backend about the payment status.

Webhooks are essential for ensuring that even if a user closes their browser or loses internet connection, your application can still confirm whether the payment was successful.

Step 5: Testing with Stripe’s Test Mode​

Before going live, use Stripe’s test mode to simulate transactions. Stripe provides test card numbers that allow you to check different payment scenarios, such as successful payments, declined transactions, and authentication challenges.

This ensures that your integration is working correctly before you process real payments.

Final Thoughts​

Integrating Stripe’s Payment Element with a React frontend and Spring Boot backend simplifies the entire payment process, making it secure, reliable, and user-friendly. Whether you’re building a one-time payment system or handling recurring subscriptions, Stripe provides a scalable and efficient solution.

What’s Next?​

Customization – Modify the Payment Element UI to match your brand.
Additional Payment Methods – Enable support for Apple Pay, Google Pay, and local payment options.
Recurring Payments & Subscriptions – Implement Stripe Billing for automatic renewals.
Webhooks & Notifications – Set up webhooks to track payment statuses and automate order processing.

To learn more, check out Stripe’s official documentation and start building a seamless checkout experience today!