# Getting Started with Stripe

This section provides an overview of how to get started with Stripe, covering essential steps for setting up your account, integrating payments, and exploring Stripe's various products and services.

## Key Features and Products

Stripe offers a comprehensive suite of tools and services to manage online and in-person payments, revenue generation, and financial operations.

### Payments

*   **Online Payments:** Accept payments seamlessly on your website or app. Stripe offers various integration options, from no-code solutions like Payment Links to fully customizable checkout pages with Stripe Elements.
*   **Terminal (In-person Payments):** Process payments in person using your iPhone or Android device with Stripe Terminal.
*   **Payment Methods:** Support a wide range of global payment methods, including cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), and local payment options. Stripe's dynamic payment methods ensure you display the most relevant options to your customers.

### Revenue

*   **Billing:** Manage subscriptions and recurring payments with flexible pricing models, including flat-rate, usage-based, and tiered pricing.
*   **Tax:** Automate tax calculation and collection with Stripe Tax, ensuring compliance across different regions.

### Platforms and Marketplaces

*   **Connect:** Build marketplace or platform businesses, allowing you to onboard users, process payments on their behalf, and manage payouts.

### Money Management

*   **Issuing:** Create and manage physical or virtual cards for your business or customers.
*   **Treasury:** Access building blocks for financial services, enabling you to offer embedded financial experiences.

### Developer Resources

*   **APIs & SDKs:** Integrate Stripe into your applications using a comprehensive set of APIs and SDKs for various platforms (Web, iOS, Android, React Native).
*   **Elements:** Utilize prebuilt UI components for building customizable payment forms and checkout experiences.
*   **Checkout:** Leverage Stripe's prebuilt, hosted checkout pages for a quick and low-code payment integration.

## Core Concepts

*   **Payment Intents:** Track the lifecycle of a payment from creation through checkout, handling authentication and status updates.
*   **Setup Intents:** Collect and save payment method details for future use without creating an immediate charge.
*   **Checkout Sessions:** A backend for multiple Stripe payment UIs, managing the full checkout lifecycle and supporting features like tax, discounts, and subscriptions.

## Getting Started

1.  **Create a Stripe Account:** Sign up for a Stripe account to access the Dashboard and begin integrating.
2.  **Explore Products:** Familiarize yourself with Stripe's various products and services to identify the best fit for your business needs.
3.  **Set Up Your Integration:** Choose your integration path (no-code, low-code, or advanced) and follow the relevant guides to implement payments.
4.  **Test Payments:** Use Stripe's test cards and API keys to test your integration thoroughly before going live.

This documentation provides detailed guides and API references to help you build robust and scalable payment solutions with Stripe.