> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.payai.network/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Manual Flow

> Step-by-step guide to building the x402 PAYMENT-REQUIRED response manually in TypeScript without server SDK or middleware.

## Manual x402 server flow (TypeScript)

This page shows how to respond with **402 Payment Required** and build the **PAYMENT-REQUIRED** header by hand in TypeScript—no `@x402/express` or other server SDK. You decide when payment is required, construct the payment-requirements payload, base64-encode it, and send it in the response.

For production you’ll usually use the [Express](/x402/servers/typescript/express), [Hono](/x402/servers/typescript/hono), or [Next.js](/x402/servers/typescript/nextjs) quickstarts; this tutorial is for agents or environments that need a minimal implementation or want to understand the protocol from the server’s perspective.

***

## 1. When to return 402

When a request hits a protected route:

* If the request **does not** include a valid **PAYMENT-SIGNATURE** header (or the payment is invalid/expired), respond with **402** and a **PAYMENT-REQUIRED** header so the client knows how to pay.
* If the request **does** include a valid payment, you (or your facilitator) verify/settle it and then respond with **200** and the resource. Verification and settlement are typically done via the [PayAI Facilitator](/x402/facilitators/introduction) or your own backend; this page focuses only on building the 402 response.

***

## 2. Build the payment-requirements payload

The **PAYMENT-REQUIRED** header must contain **base64-encoded JSON**. The JSON object has this shape (see [x402 Reference §5.1](/x402/reference)):

| Field         | Type     | Description                                                                                        |
| ------------- | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `x402Version` | `number` | Protocol version; use **2**                                                                        |
| `error`       | `string` | Human-readable message (e.g. why payment is required)                                              |
| `resource`    | `object` | `url`, `description`, and optional `mimeType` for the protected resource                           |
| `accepts`     | `array`  | List of payment options (scheme, network, amount, asset, payTo, maxTimeoutSeconds, optional extra) |
| `extensions`  | `object` | Reserved; use `{}`                                                                                 |

Each item in **accepts** describes one way the client can pay (e.g. USDC on Base Sepolia, or USDC on Solana). The client will choose one and send it back in PAYMENT-SIGNATURE.

***

## 3. Example: building the payload in TypeScript

Define the payload object, then encode it as base64 and set the header. Use your own recipient addresses (`payTo`), asset addresses, and amounts.

```ts theme={null}
import type { IncomingMessage, ServerResponse } from "node:http";

function b64Encode(s: string): string {
  return Buffer.from(s, "utf-8").toString("base64");
}

// Your wallet addresses (from env or config)
const EVM_PAY_TO = process.env.EVM_ADDRESS ?? "0x209693Bc6afc0C5328bA36FaF03C514EF312287C";
const SVM_PAY_TO = process.env.SVM_ADDRESS ?? "6KPYDyuRnpuKcm1TerUmwLd2BcaihvhF4Ccrr8beruu2";

// Example: protected resource URL and metadata
const resourceUrl = "https://api.example.com/weather";
const resourceDescription = "Weather data";
const resourceMimeType = "application/json";

const paymentRequired = {
  x402Version: 2,
  error: "PAYMENT-SIGNATURE header is required",
  resource: {
    url: resourceUrl,
    description: resourceDescription,
    mimeType: resourceMimeType,
  },
  accepts: [
    {
      scheme: "exact",
      network: "eip155:84532",
      amount: "10000",
      asset: "0x036CbD53842c5426634e7929541eC2318f3dCF7e",
      payTo: EVM_PAY_TO,
      maxTimeoutSeconds: 60,
      extra: { name: "USDC", version: "2" },
    },
    {
      scheme: "exact",
      network: "solana:5eykt4UsFv8P8NJdTREpY1vzqKqZKvdpKuc147dw2N9d",
      amount: "1000000",
      asset: "EPjFWdd5AufqSSqeM2qN1xzybapC8G4wEGGkZwyTDt1v",
      payTo: SVM_PAY_TO,
      maxTimeoutSeconds: 60,
      extra: { feePayer: "2wKupLR9q6wXYppw8Gr2NvWxKBUqm4PPJKkQfoxHDBg4" },
    },
  ],
  extensions: {},
};

const paymentRequiredB64 = b64Encode(JSON.stringify(paymentRequired));
```

***

## 4. Send the 402 response with PAYMENT-REQUIRED

Set the **PAYMENT-REQUIRED** header to the base64 string and return status **402**.

```ts theme={null}
function send402(res: ServerResponse, paymentRequiredB64: string): void {
  res.writeHead(402, {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    "PAYMENT-REQUIRED": paymentRequiredB64,
  });
  res.end(JSON.stringify({ error: "Payment required" }));
}
```

Example in a minimal request handler:

```ts theme={null}
function handleGetWeather(req: IncomingMessage, res: ServerResponse): void {
  const hasPayment = req.headers["payment-signature"];
  if (!hasPayment) {
    send402(res, paymentRequiredB64);
    return;
  }
  // Otherwise: verify/settle payment (e.g. via facilitator), then return 200 + resource
  res.writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "application/json" });
  res.end(JSON.stringify({ weather: "sunny", temperature: 70 }));
}
```

***

## Summary

| Step | Action                                                                                              |
| ---- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1    | Decide when payment is required (no or invalid PAYMENT-SIGNATURE).                                  |
| 2    | Build the payment-requirements object: `x402Version`, `error`, `resource`, `accepts`, `extensions`. |
| 3    | Base64-encode `JSON.stringify(paymentRequired)` and set the **PAYMENT-REQUIRED** header.            |
| 4    | Respond with status **402**.                                                                        |

For exact field types and facilitator behavior, see the [x402 Reference](/x402/reference). For a ready-made server, use the [Express](/x402/servers/typescript/express), [Hono](/x402/servers/typescript/hono), or [Next.js](/x402/servers/typescript/nextjs) quickstarts.

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