Protected Routes

Protected Routes allow you to require payment before users can access your API endpoints. Simply add the @require_payment decorator (Python) or requirePayment middleware (Node.js) to your endpoints, and the SDK handles everything—including automatic registration in your dashboard.

Overview

The Protected Routes feature enables:

• Code-First Configuration: Define protected routes in your code with the @require_payment decorator
• Auto-Registration: Routes automatically appear in your dashboard when your app starts
• SDK Enforcement: Automatic 402 responses and payment verification
• Hosted Checkout: Redirect users to pay.orvion.sh for browser-based payments
• Dashboard Management: Adjust pricing, pause routes, and view analytics
• Pattern Matching: Use wildcards to protect groups of endpoints

Quick Start

Choose your SDK to get started:

Basic Example (402 Mode)

from fastapi import FastAPI, Request
from orvion.fastapi import OrvionMiddleware, require_payment

app = FastAPI()
app.add_middleware(OrvionMiddleware, api_key=os.environ["ORVION_API_KEY"])

@app.get("/api/premium")
@require_payment(amount="0.10", currency="USDC")
async def premium(request: Request):
  return {"data": "Premium content!"}

Hosted Checkout Mode

For web apps where users pay via browser, use hosted checkout to redirect to pay.orvion.sh:

@app.get("/premium")
@require_payment(amount="1.00", currency="USDC", hosted_checkout=True)
async def premium(request: Request):
  return {"data": "Premium content!"}

View in Dashboard

Once your app starts and receives its first request, your protected routes automatically appear in Billing → Protected Routes with an "SDK" badge. From there you can:

• Adjust pricing without code changes
• Pause/unpause routes
• View payment analytics
• Monitor usage

Auto-Registration

When your app starts, the SDK automatically scans for protected endpoints and registers them with Meshpay. This happens on the first request to your app.

• Python: Scans for @require_payment decorated endpoints
• Node.js: Scans for routes using requirePayment middleware
• Multi-worker safe: Uses idempotent upserts—safe for Gunicorn, PM2, etc.

For detailed registration options, see the Python SDK or Node.js SDK pages.

Route Pattern Syntax

Protected routes support two pattern types:

Exact Match

/api/reports/generate

Matches only this exact path.

Wildcard (Prefix) Match

/api/premium/*

Matches any path starting with /api/premium/:

• ✅ /api/premium/data
• ✅ /api/premium/users/123
• ❌ /api/premiumX
• ❌ /api/premium (no trailing content)

Note: Wildcards are only allowed at the end of patterns.

Priority Rules

When multiple routes could match a request, the most specific one wins:

1. Exact path + Exact method (highest priority)
2. Exact path + Wildcard method (*)
3. Wildcard path + Exact method
4. Wildcard path + Wildcard method (*) (lowest priority)

For wildcard paths with the same specificity, longer prefixes take priority.

Example

Given these routes:

• /api/premium/* (method: *, price: $0.10)
• /api/premium/data (method: GET, price: $0.25)

A GET /api/premium/data request uses the $0.25 price (exact path + exact method beats wildcard path).

SDK Guides

For detailed SDK configuration and examples, see:

• Python SDK Guide - FastAPI decorators, middleware setup, and examples
• Node.js SDK Guide - Express middleware, TypeScript types, and examples

Dashboard Management

Once routes are auto-registered, you can manage them in the dashboard:

What You Can Edit

• Price: Adjust amount and currency without code changes
• Status: Pause/unpause routes to temporarily disable payment requirements
• Allow Anonymous: Toggle whether requests without customer ID are allowed

What's Read-Only

• Route Pattern: The URL path (defined in code)
• HTTP Method: GET, POST, etc. (defined in code)
• Source: Shows "SDK" for auto-registered routes

Route Source Badges

| Badge | Meaning | |-------|---------| | SDK | Auto-registered from @require_payment decorator | | Manual | Created via API (deprecated) |

API Reference

See the API Reference for complete endpoint documentation, request/response schemas, and examples.

Security Considerations

Anonymous Requests

By default, routes allow anonymous requests (no customer identifier). To prevent abuse:

1. Set allow_anonymous: false in the dashboard
2. Or use allow_anonymous=False in the decorator

When disabled, requests without a customer ID receive a 400 error instead of creating a charge.

Resource Reference

Each charge includes a resource_ref of protected_route:{route_id}. This prevents:

• Reusing a payment for one route on a different route
• Paying for a cheap endpoint and accessing an expensive one

Advanced Topics

Caching

SDKs cache route configurations for 60 seconds by default. Changes in the dashboard take up to 60 seconds to take effect. See SDK-specific pages for cache management.

Security

• Anonymous Requests: By default, routes allow anonymous requests. Set allow_anonymous: false to require customer identification.
• Resource Reference: Each charge includes a resource_ref to prevent payment reuse across different routes.

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions:

• Route not appearing: Check decorator order, ensure middleware is configured, wait for first request
• 500 error: Middleware not configured or route scanning failed
• Payment verification failing: Check transaction headers and charge status

For detailed troubleshooting, see the Python SDK or Node.js SDK pages.

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