Send XRP
This tutorial explains how to send a direct XRP Payment using xrpl.js
for JavaScript, xrpl-py
for Python, xrpl4j
for Java or XRPL_PHP
for PHP. First, we step through the process with the XRP Ledger Testnet. Then, we compare that to the additional requirements for doing the equivalent in production.
Tip: Check out the Code Samples for a complete version of the code used in this tutorial.
Prerequisites
To interact with the XRP Ledger, you need to set up a dev environment with the necessary tools. This tutorial provides examples using the following options:
- JavaScript with the xrpl.js library. See Get Started Using JavaScript for setup steps.
- Python with the
xrpl-py
library. See Get Started using Python for setup steps. - Java with the xrpl4j library. See Get Started Using Java for setup steps.
- PHP with the XRPL_PHP library. See Get Started Using PHP for setup steps.
Send a Payment on the Test Net
1. Get Credentials
To transact on the XRP Ledger, you need an address and secret key, and some XRP. The address and secret key look like this:
// Example credentials const wallet = xrpl.Wallet.fromSeed("sn3nxiW7v8KXzPzAqzyHXbSSKNuN9") console.log(wallet.address) // rMCcNuTcajgw7YTgBy1sys3b89QqjUrMpH
The secret key shown here is for example only. For development purposes, you can get your own credentials, pre-funded with XRP, on the Testnet using the following interface:
Caution: Ripple provides the Testnet and Devnet for testing purposes only, and sometimes resets the state of these test networks along with all balances. As a precaution, do not use the same addresses on Testnet/Devnet and Mainnet.
When you're building production-ready software, you should use an existing account, and manage your keys using a secure signing configuration.
2. Connect to a Testnet Server
First, you must connect to an XRP Ledger server so you can get the current status of your account and the shared ledger. You can use this information to automatically fill in some required fields of a transaction. You also must be connected to the network to submit transactions to it.
The following code connects to a public Testnet servers:
// In browsers, use a <script> tag. In Node.js, uncomment the following line: // const xrpl = require('xrpl') // Wrap code in an async function so we can use await async function main() { // Define the network client const client = new xrpl.Client("wss://s.altnet.rippletest.net:51233") await client.connect() // ... custom code goes here // Disconnect when done (If you omit this, Node.js won't end the process) await client.disconnect() } main()
For this tutorial, click the following button to connect:
3. Prepare Transaction
Typically, we create XRP Ledger transactions as objects in the JSON transaction format. The following example shows a minimal Payment specification:
{ "TransactionType": "Payment", "Account": "rPT1Sjq2YGrBMTttX4GZHjKu9dyfzbpAYe", "Amount": "2000000", "Destination": "rUCzEr6jrEyMpjhs4wSdQdz4g8Y382NxfM" }
The bare minimum set of instructions you must provide for an XRP Payment is:
- An indicator that this is a payment. (
"TransactionType": "Payment"
) - The sending address. (
"Account"
) - The address that should receive the XRP (
"Destination"
). This can't be the same as the sending address. - The amount of XRP to send (
"Amount"
). Typically, this is specified as an integer in "drops" of XRP, where 1,000,000 drops equals 1 XRP.
Technically, a transaction must contain some additional fields, and certain optional fields such as LastLedgerSequence
are strongly recommended. Some other language-specific notes:
- If you're using
xrpl.js
for JavaScript, you can use theClient.autofill()
method to automatically fill in good defaults for the remaining fields of a transaction. In TypeScript, you can also use the transaction models likexrpl.Payment
to enforce the correct fields. - With
xrpl-py
for Python, you can use the models inxrpl.models.transactions
to construct transactions as native Python objects. - With xrpl4j for Java, you can use the model objects in the
xrpl4j-model
module to construct transactions as Java objects.- Unlike the other libraries, you must provide the account
sequence
and thesigningPublicKey
of the source account of aTransaction
at the time of construction, as well as afee
.
- Unlike the other libraries, you must provide the account
Here's an example of preparing the above payment:
// Prepare transaction ------------------------------------------------------- const prepared = await client.autofill({ "TransactionType": "Payment", "Account": wallet.address, "Amount": xrpl.xrpToDrops("22"), "Destination": "rPT1Sjq2YGrBMTttX4GZHjKu9dyfzbpAYe" }) const max_ledger = prepared.LastLedgerSequence console.log("Prepared transaction instructions:", prepared) console.log("Transaction cost:", xrpl.dropsToXrp(prepared.Fee), "XRP") console.log("Transaction expires after ledger:", max_ledger)
4. Sign the Transaction Instructions
Signing a transaction uses your credentials to authorize the transaction on your behalf. The input to this step is a completed set of transaction instructions (usually JSON), and the output is a binary blob containing the instructions and a signature from the sender.
- JavaScript: Use the
sign()
method of aWallet
instance to sign the transaction withxrpl.js
. - Python: Use the
xrpl.transaction.safe_sign_transaction()
method with a model andWallet
object. - Java: Use a
SignatureService
instance to sign the transaction. For this tutorial, use theSingleKeySignatureService
. - PHP: Use a
sign()
method of aWallet
instance instance to sign the transaction. The input to this step is a completed array of transaction instructions.
// Sign prepared instructions ------------------------------------------------ const signed = wallet.sign(prepared) console.log("Identifying hash:", signed.hash) console.log("Signed blob:", signed.tx_blob)
The result of the signing operation is a transaction object containing a signature. Typically, XRP Ledger APIs expect a signed transaction to be the hexadecimal representation of the transaction's canonical binary format, called a "blob".
- In
xrpl.js
, the signing API also returns the transaction's ID, or identifying hash, which you can use to look up the transaction later. This is a 64-character hexadecimal string that is unique to this transaction. - In
xrpl-py
, you can get the transaction's hash in the response to submitting it in the next step. - In xrpl4j,
SignatureService.sign
returns aSignedTransaction
, which contains the transaction's hash, which you can use to look up the transaction later. - In
XRPL_PHP
, the signing API also returns the transaction's ID, or identifying hash, which you can use to look up the transaction later. This is a 64-character hexadecimal string that is unique to this transaction.
5. Submit the Signed Blob
Now that you have a signed transaction, you can submit it to an XRP Ledger server, which relays it through the network. It's also a good idea to take note of the latest validated ledger index before you submit. The earliest ledger version that your transaction could get into as a result of this submission is one higher than the latest validated ledger when you submit it. Of course, if the same transaction was previously submitted, it could already be in a previous ledger. (It can't succeed a second time, but you may not realize it succeeded if you aren't looking in the right ledger versions.)
- JavaScript: Use the
submitAndWait()
method of the Client to submit a signed transaction to the network and wait for the response, or usesubmitSigned()
to submit a transaction and get only the preliminary response. - Python: Use the
xrpl.transaction.submit_and_wait()
method to submit a transaction to the network and wait for a response. - Java: Use the
XrplClient.submit(SignedTransaction)
method to submit a transaction to the network. Use theXrplClient.ledger()
method to get the latest validated ledger index. - PHP: Use the
submitAndWait()
method of the Client to submit a transaction to the network and wait for the response.
// Submit signed blob -------------------------------------------------------- const tx = await client.submitAndWait(signed.tx_blob)
This method returns the tentative result of trying to apply the transaction to the open ledger. This result can change when the transaction is included in a validated ledger: transactions that succeed initially might ultimately fail, and transactions that fail initially might ultimately succeed. Still, the tentative result often matches the final result, so it's OK to get excited if you see tesSUCCESS
here. 😁
If you see any other result, you should check the following:
- Are you using the correct addresses for the sender and destination?
- Did you forget any other fields of the transaction, skip any steps, or make any other typos?
- Do you have enough Test XRP to send the transaction? The amount of XRP you can send is limited by the reserve requirement, which is currently 10 XRP with an additional 2 XRP for each "object" you own in the ledger. (If you generated a new address with the Testnet Faucet, you don't own any objects.)
- Are you connected to a server on the test network?
See the full list of transaction results for more possibilities.
6. Wait for Validation
Most transactions are accepted into the next ledger version after they're submitted, which means it may take 4-7 seconds for a transaction's outcome to be final. If the XRP Ledger is busy or poor network connectivity delays a transaction from being relayed throughout the network, a transaction may take longer to be confirmed. (For more information on expiration of unconfirmed transactions, see Reliable Transaction Submission.)
JavaScript: If you used the
.submitAndWait()
method, you can wait until the returned Promise resolves. Other, more asynchronous approaches are also possible.Python: If you used the
xrpl.transaction.submit_and_wait()
method, you can wait for the function to return. Other approaches, including asynchronous ones using the WebSocket client, are also possible.Java Poll the
XrplClient.transaction()
method to see if your transaction has a final result. Periodically check that the latest validated ledger index has not passed theLastLedgerIndex
of the transaction using theXrplClient.ledger()
method.PHP: If you used the
.submitAndWait()
method, you can wait until the returned Promise resolves. Other, more asynchronous approaches are also possible.
// Wait for validation ------------------------------------------------------- // submitAndWait() handles this automatically, but it can take 4-7s.
Transaction ID: | (None) |
---|---|
Latest Validated Ledger Index: | (Not connected) |
Ledger Index at Time of Submission: | (Not submitted) |
Transaction LastLedgerSequence : | (Not prepared) |
7. Check Transaction Status
To know for sure what a transaction did, you must look up the outcome of the transaction when it appears in a validated ledger version.
JavaScript: Use the response from
submitAndWait()
or call the tx method usingClient.request()
.Tip: In TypeScript you can pass a
TxRequest
to theClient.request()
method.Python: Use the response from
submit_and_wait()
or call thexrpl.transaction.get_transaction_from_hash()
method. (See the tx method response format for a detailed reference of the fields this can contain.)Java: Use the
XrplClient.transaction()
method to check the status of a transaction.PHP: Use the response from
submitAndWait()
or call thetx method
using$client->syncRequest()
.
// Check transaction results ------------------------------------------------- console.log("Transaction result:", tx.result.meta.TransactionResult) console.log("Balance changes:", JSON.stringify(xrpl.getBalanceChanges(tx.result.meta), null, 2))
Caution: XRP Ledger APIs may return tentative results from ledger versions that have not yet been validated. For example, in tx method response, be sure to look for "validated": true
to confirm that the data comes from a validated ledger version. Transaction results that are not from a validated ledger version are subject to change. For more information, see Finality of Results.
Differences for Production
To send an XRP payment on the production XRP Ledger, the steps you take are largely the same. However, there are some key differences in the necessary setup:
- Getting real XRP isn't free.
- You must connect to a server that's synced with the production XRP Ledger network.
Getting a Real XRP Account
This tutorial uses a button to get an address that's already funded with Test Net XRP, which only works because Test Net XRP is not worth anything. For actual XRP, you need to get XRP from someone who already has some. (For example, you might buy it on an exchange.) You can generate an address and secret that'll work on either production or the Testnet as follows:
const wallet = new xrpl.Wallet() console.log(wallet.address) // Example: rGCkuB7PBr5tNy68tPEABEtcdno4hE6Y7f console.log(wallet.seed) // Example: sp6JS7f14BuwFY8Mw6bTtLKWauoUs
Warning: You should only use an address and secret that you generated securely, on your local machine. If another computer generated the address and secret and sent it to you over a network, it's possible that someone else on the network may see that information. If they do, they'll have as much control over your XRP as you do. It's also recommended not to use the same address for the Testnet and Mainnet, because transactions that you created for use on one network could also be valid to execute on the other network, depending on the parameters you provided.
Generating an address and secret doesn't get you XRP directly; you're only choosing a random number. You must also receive XRP at that address to fund the account. A common way to acquire XRP is to buy it from an exchange, then withdraw it to your own address.
Connecting to the Production XRP Ledger
When you instantiate your client's connect to the XRP Ledger, you must specify a server that's synced with the appropriate network. For many cases, you can use public servers, such as in the following example:
const xrpl = require('xrpl') const api = new xrpl.Client('wss://xrplcluster.com') api.connect()
If you install rippled
yourself, it connects to the production network by default. (You can also configure it to connect to the test net instead.) After the server has synced (typically within about 15 minutes of starting it up), you can connect to it locally, which has various benefits. The following example shows how to connect to a server running the default configuration:
const xrpl = require('xrpl') const api = new xrpl.Client('ws://localhost:6006') api.connect()
Tip: The local connection uses an unencrypted protocol (ws
or http
) rather than the TLS-encrypted version (wss
or https
). This is secure only because the communications never leave the same machine, and is easier to set up because it does not require a TLS certificate. For connections on an outside network, always use wss
or https
.
Next Steps
After completing this tutorial, you may want to try the following:
- Issue a token on the XRP Ledger Testnet.
- Trade in the Decentralized Exchange.
- Build Reliable transaction submission for production systems.
- Check your client library's API reference for the full range of XRP Ledger functionality.
- Customize your Account Settings.
- Learn how Transaction Metadata describes the outcome of a transaction in detail.
- Explore more Payment Types such as Escrows and Payment Channels.