Introduction to Hydrogen Sandbox

The Hydrogen sandbox environment is a powerful tool designed to help developers integrate and test payment gateway functionalities without processing real transactions. This isolated testing ground allows you to explore various features, simulate different payment scenarios, and refine your integration before going live.

Upon completing the sign-up process for Hydrogen, you'll automatically gain access to the sandbox environment. This virtual playground is your risk-free space to experiment with the payment API and its capabilities.

Obtaining API Keys:

• Log in to your Hydrogen developer dashboard
• Navigate to the "Profile & Settings" then "API Integration" section
• Click the icon to copy your sandbox Public and Secret keys
• Keep these keys secure and never share them publicly

These keys are must haves for authenticating your requests to the payment API.

Sandbox Features and Functionality

1. API Integration:

• Use the API endpoint provided in the documentation
• Implement API calls using your sandbox keys
• Explore various API methods such as payment creation, retrieval, and refunds

2. Test Transactions:

• Use test card numbers provided in the documentation
• Simulate various payment scenarios (successful, failed, etc.)
• Test different payment methods (cards, bank transfer)

3. Dashboard Monitoring:

• Access your sandbox dashboard to view transaction details
• Analyze transaction statuses, amounts, and customer information
• Generate reports to gain insights into your test data

4. Webhook Integration:

• Set up webhook notifications to receive real-time updates
• Configure your webhook URL. Go to "Profile and Settings" > "API Integration" and enter your server's URL for receiving notifications.
• Test webhook functionality with simulated events
• Verify your server's ability to handle and process incoming webhooks

5. Error Handling and Edge Cases:

• Deliberately trigger API errors to test your error handling
• Experiment with invalid parameters, timeouts, and network issues
• Ensure your integration gracefully handles various error scenarios

6. Currency and Amount Testing:

• Test transactions with different currencies (NGN or USD)
• Simulate transactions with varying amounts, from small to large
• Test redirect or popup flow as well as one off and recurring payments.

7. Customization and User Experience:

• Test custom checkout flows and payment pages
• Experiment with different UI/UX designs for payment forms, look up available SDKs
• Ensure a smooth and intuitive payment experience for end-users

Transitioning to Production

Once you are done testing your integration in the sandbox and you are satisfied with the experience:

• Toggle to "Live mode" in your dashboard
• Replace test API keys with production keys
• Update your webhook URL for live notifications
• Conduct final tests in a monitored environment before full deployment

The sandbox environment ensures a smooth transition from testing to live transactions, allowing you to confidently deploy your payment integration.

The Hydrogen sandbox environment is an amazing tool for developers. It provides a risk-free space to explore, test, and refine your payment integration. Through thorough testing in the sandbox, you can ensure a fully functional, secure, and seamless payment experience for your users when you go live.

Remember, the key to a successful integration lies in comprehensive testing and attention to detail. Explore the full capabilities of the Hydrogen sandbox to create a seamless payment experience for your products and services.